Teaching mental patients to use client-centered and experiential therapeutic skills with each other.

Investigated the effects of teaching 42 acute and chronic schizophrenic inpatients (mean age 27.6 yrs) to use client-centered reflective and experiential focusing skills with each other. To determine whether these skills could be learned, Ss were pre- and posttested with the Hinterkopf-Brunswick Talker and Helper Rating Scales. Results indicate that Ss were successful in learning the majority of skills taught. Administration of the Discharge Readiness Inventory revealed significant improvement in experimental Ss as compared to controls on community adjustment potential. In addition to statistical results, patients reported other beneficial effects from the training. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)