CLINICAL HANDBOOK OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

612 VIII. SPECIAL TOPICSFIGURE 59.1. Seven learning activities.and practice the skills and the problem-solving exercises. Therefore, larger groups requirea cotherapist or cotrainer. This module can also be used effectively and for a briefer timewith individuals or couples.Of course, the teaching must be modified to fit and to compensate for the large variationsin people’s functioning, symptoms, and capabilities to benefit from training. Themodules’ repetitive, “tight” structures provide a completely reproducible starting pointfor these modifications. Experienced trainers can experiment with a variety of alterations,and inexperienced trainers can return to the structure should their modifications proveineffective. The repetitive structure and social learning principles intrinsic to the modulescompensate for most symptomatic and cognitive limitations, and form a constant backgroundof psychosocial treatment against which the effects of other treatments (e.g., medications)can be determined.Clinical Experience with the Friendship and Intimacy ModuleThe module has been in active use for the past 2 years at the Hollywood Mental HealthCenter’s Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program, the San Fernando Mental Health Center’sWellness Program, the UCLA Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program, and the UCLA NeuropsychiatricPartial Hospital Program. It has been well received by patients; however, thecaveat mentioned earlier regarding careful selection of professionals who are comfortable