Effects of Grande Rehabilitation Programs for Chronic Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Lee Sook Ja , Gio Won Tak , Lee Chung Sook 
Published: September 2024

Having difficulties in coping with and managing stress as well as in inter-personal relationship, chronic schizophrenic patients tend to be easily withdrawed and isolated. As they also are not sufficiently playing a role as a member of family, it is difficult for them to adjust to society.Grande programs provide supportive and systematic mental social rehabilitation services with appropriate training and supportive atmosphere for those who are suffering from schizophrenia so as to prevent from relapsing and to help them readjust t(_ society.In this study, Grande programs was regarded as an independent variable, and clinical symptoms, occupational activities, quality of life, usefulness of programs, treatment factors as dependent variable. An equivalent group with a pre-post test design was used in the study.The subject of this study was 15 schizophrenic clients at the range of 18-55 years old.attending Grande Centre on St. John of God Psychiatric Hospital in Kwangju, who have agreed to co-operate with the study.In order to prove the effects of the program, 5 assessment scales - one for before the program and one for 6 month after the program - were introduced to observe behavioral changes in the clients. Clinical symptoms, occupational activities, quality of life, benefits of programs, program therapy factors along with half-structured interviews were used as assessment instruments.Grande programs are composed of 4 areas i.e. daily life training, social skill training, social adjustment training and vocational rehabilitation training which are managed by the researcher as well as staff working in the hospital.The study was researched for 6 months between 1 May 1998 till 30 October 1998.The results of the study are as follows.1. Chronic schizophrenic patients' clinical symptom scores were more reduced after attending Grande programs than that of before the program. This means that the programs provided by Grande Centre affects on reducing the clients' clinical symptoms, specially negative and general psychopathic symptoms.2. Occupational activity scores were improved after the program more than before. That implies that Grande program affects on improving clients' inter persona] relationship, self image and attitudes toward works.3. Quality of life scores were higher after attending Grande programs than before the program. That is. Grande programs affects on improving clients quality of life.4. Regarding usefulness of program scores, clients found vocational rehabilitation training which is related to works most benefitial and then in order of social adjustment training, social skill ti a ini ng and daily life training.5. Clients saw treatment factors after Grande programs such as a deal with existing factors, identification with and advice from the therapists etc. In other words, in participation with Grande programs, clients experience trust through advice from therapists and through an identification with therapists, develop social skills arid facilitate social adjustment.In summary, Grande programs are beneficial to chronic schizophrenic patients for their treatment and rehabilitation. It is essential, therefore, for chronic schizophrenic patients to have rehabilitation programs in that they help the chronic schizophrenia suffering even more than 10 years clinical history readjust back to society.