A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of the Abridged Illness Management and Recovery Program for People with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Overview

Journal Hong Kong J Occup Ther

Date 2023 Nov 29

PMID 38027051

Authors

Raymond Hung Kei Wong

Raymond Wing Cheong Au

Chan Wai Lan

Chiu Pi Fan

Frank Pi Fan Chiu

Mann Man Keung Chu

Thomas Chung Lung Kong

Ada Wai Yu Lo

Donald Chi Shing Mak

Justina Kp Wong

Sharifa Yp Yam

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an abridged version of the Illness Management and Recovery Programme (AIMR) that was modified and developed in Hong Kong through a mult-centre randomized controlled trial for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Methods: This study was implemented in 10 occupational therapy departments, psychiatric day hospitals of 7 Hospital Authority clusters in Hong Kong. A total of 211 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder was recruited and randomized into either the experimental or the control condition. In the control group, the subjects went through conventional occupational therapy programmes. In the experimental group, the subjects went through an additional 10-session programme of AIMR.

Participants: were measured at baseline, completion of the AIMR, and 3-month after the AIMR programme. Measures include the expanded version of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS-E), the client version of the Illness Management and Recovery Scale (IMRS), the Snyder Hope Scale, the Social and Occupational and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), the WHO Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Chinese Version of the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (C-SWEMWBS).

Results: Both the experimental and control cohorts had comparable clinical and socio-demographic characteristics except years of education and duration of illness. These two variables were entered as covariates in the linear mixed model which showed that the experimental group had significantly higher improvement than the control group in terms of illness management (F = 4.82; = .03; Cohen's d = .45), functional (F = 10.65; = .001; Cohen's d = .58), and hope (F = 5.52; = .02; Cohen's d = .08) measures after the completion of treatment.

Conclusion: The results supported the effectiveness of the AIMR programm which would be important in the recovery oriented practices in psychiatry.

Citing Articles

Further validation of the Chinese short Warwick Edinburgh mental wellbeing scale in the adult population of Macau: an application of classic test theory and item response theory.

Lam L, Lam M Front Psychiatry. 2025; 16:1528509.

PMID: 40078525 PMC: 11897500. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1528509.

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