A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 7 studies with a total of 483 subjects. They evaluated life skills programmes versus standard care, or support group. All participants were people with a chronic mental illness mostly with schizophrenia and schizophrenia like disorders. Six studies used a hospital setting and in one the participants attended a day hospital. No significant difference in life skills performance between people given life skills training and standard care was found (WMD -1.10 95% CI -7.8 to 5.6; 1 RCT, n=32). Life skills training did not improve or worsen study retention (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.40 to 3.36; 5 RCTs, n = 345). No significant difference in PANSS positive, negative or total scores between life skills intervention and standard care was found. Quality of life scores were equivocal between participants given life skills training and standard care (WMD -0.02 CI -0.1 to 0.03; 1 RCT, n=32). Life skills compared with support groups also did not reveal any significant differences in PANSS scores, quality of life, or social performance skills (MD -0.90; 95% CI -3.39 to 1.59; 1 RCT, n=158).
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment) and imprecise results (few studies for each comparison).
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