The Effectiveness of Community Re-entry Program (CRP) in Increasing Preparedness for Discharge and Post-discharge Coping in Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Introduction and Aim: Conventional psychiatric therapies have shortcomings in the treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and have little effect on skills and community-based areas. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of community return program (CRP) as a community-based complementary therapy method in increasing readiness for discharge and post-discharge adjustment in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: The statistical population in this randomized clinical trial (RCT) was all patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who were admitted to Razi Psychiatric Hospital in 2017. Eighty patients were selected by simple random sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The intervention method was CRP along with conventional psychiatric treatment in the experimental group, while patients in the control group received only conventional psychiatric treatment. The measurement tools included a demographic data form, CRP test, CRP daily Schedule, and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. The frequency of patients 'aggression after discharge from the hospital was also determined and recorded at one, three, and six months after discharge from the hospital through telephone interviews with patients' families. Results: Implementation of CRP along with conventional psychiatric treatment was more effective than control group on the components of discharge readiness (discharge readiness, and awareness of disease, relapse symptoms and medication information) (p=0.01) and coping capacity (increase ability and performance improvement, ability to daily scheduling, aggression rate (p=0.01). Conclusion: In order to compensate for the weakness of conventional psychiatric treatment in increasing preparedness for discharge and post-discharge coping of patients with schizophrenia, non-pharmacological complementary therapies such as CRP can be used.