Effects of Interpersonal Problem-Solving Training With Chronic Aftercare Patients on Problem-Solving Component Skills and Effectiveness of Solutions

Seven chronic psychiatric patients who were enrolled in a partial-hospitalization program and had difficulty solving interpersonal problems received group skills training. A multiple-baseline design was used to demonstrate training effectiveness through improved problem solving on trained situations and through skill generalization to novel, untrained situations. Maintenance of the training was evaluated after 1 month and 4 months. Social validation was accomplished by comparing the problem-solving competency of the patient sample with skills demonstrated by "normal" nonpsychiatric persons in their community.