The study aimed to test whether group reminiscence intervention for inpatients with schizophrenia is feasible, acceptable and preliminary effective. The effect of the intervention was evaluated on cognition, communication, and social function. Phase I was a multi-phase parallel study (n=38). The purpose of the study was to assess feasibility and preliminary efficacy by conducting an 8-week intervention with the participants. The study employed a single-group pretest-posttest evaluation. Phase II evaluated acceptability and performed a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted by a purposively selected subsample (N=8).
The study used a sequential, multi-phase design to examine feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a structured group reminiscence intervention for inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia. The intervention targeted cognitive performance, communication ability, and social functioning, domains commonly impaired in this population. Phase I applied a parallel, multi-phase approach with a sample of 38 inpatients. Participants received an 8-week group reminiscence intervention delivered in a structured format. Sessions were conducted regularly and focused on guided recall of past experiences using prompts such as life events, personal achievements, and social roles. The design followed a single-group pretest-posttest structure. Baseline measures were collected prior to the intervention, and the same outcomes were reassessed immediately after completion. Feasibility was examined through recruitment rates, retention, session attendance, and completion of outcome measures. Preliminary efficacy was assessed by comparing pre- and post-intervention scores on standardized measures of cognition, communication, and social functioning. This phase aimed to determine whether the intervention could be implemented within an inpatient psychiatric setting and whether it showed signals of benefit across targeted outcomes. Phase II focused on acceptability using a qualitative approach. A purposive subsample of eight participants from Phase I was selected to ensure variation in engagement and response to the intervention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted following completion of the program. Interview questions explored participants' experiences with the intervention, perceived benefits, challenges encountered, and suggestions for improvement. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, allowing identification of recurring patterns related to satisfaction, perceived relevance, emotional responses, and perceived impact on interpersonal interaction and self-expression. This phase provided in-depth insight into how participants perceived the intervention and whether it was considered meaningful and appropriate in the inpatient context. The integration of quantitative findings from Phase I and qualitative insights from Phase II allowed a comprehensive evaluation of the intervention. The design supported assessment of both implementation outcomes and early indicators of clinical benefit, which are critical for informing refinement of the intervention and planning for a larger, controlled trial.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
38
The group reminiscence intervention included 8 sessions delivered over 4 weeks, with two sessions per week. Groups consisted of 3-4 participants, with 11 groups in total. Each session lasted 80-90 minutes, with careful management to limit discussion of hallucinations and delusions. Sessions followed four stages: reconnection to build rapport and trust, reflection to stimulate autobiographical recall using active listening, restating to summarize contributions, and closure emphasizing confidentiality. Trauma-informed and psychologically supportive principles guided all sessions, including sensitive handling of difficult memories. Content covered life domains such as childhood, family, and hospital experiences, with focus on coping and meaning-making. Multisensory culturally familiar stimuli were used to enhance engagement, including traditional foods, games, and music. Confidentiality was reinforced, and participants received a small appreciation gesture at the final session.
The Hashemite University
Zarqa, Jordan
Feasibility Indicators: Recruitment Retention Attrition Adherence Data completeness Adverse events.
All measures is in % Recruitment rate: Percentage of eligible participants enrolled during the 10-week recruitment period, calculated as the number who provide written consent divided by the total eligible participants approached, multiplied by 100. Retention rate: Percentage of enrolled participants who complete the week 10 assessment, calculated as completers divided by total enrolled at baseline, multiplied by 100. Attrition rate: Percentage of participants who withdraw before week 10, calculated as discontinuations divided by total enrolled, multiplied by 100. Adherence: Attendance rate across scheduled sessions, calculated as sessions attended divided by total sessions, multiplied by 100. Data completeness: Percentage of completed outcome assessment items at baseline and week 10, calculated as completed items divided by total expected items, multiplied by 100. Adverse events: Number and proportion of participants experiencing adverse events during the intervention period.
Time frame: 12 weeks
The Brief Interpersonal Communication Satisfaction Inventory (Com-Sat)
The Brief Interpersonal Communication Satisfaction Inventory is a 19-item self-report measure of communication with others (Bienvenu, 1971; Hecht, 1978). It uses a 7-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), with higher scores indicating better communication. Reported reliability ranges from 0.72 to 0.93, and in this study Cronbach's alpha was 0.75 (Rubin et al., 2004).
Time frame: 12 weeks
The Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ)
The Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ) is an 8-item self-report measure assessing social functioning across self-care, domestic, community, and social roles (Birchwood et al., 1990). Items are rated on a 4-point scale from 0 to 3, with total scores ranging from 0 to 24. Higher scores indicate poorer functioning. The Arabic version shows good reliability (α=0.80), and in this study Cronbach's alpha was 0.73 (Benhaddouch et al., 2025).
Time frame: 12 weeks
The Mini-Cog Assessment (Mini-Cog)
The Mini-Cog is a brief screening tool for cognitive impairment (Borson et al., 2000). Scores range from 0-5, with scores below 3 indicating likely impairment. It includes a three-word recall task (0-3 points) and a clock-drawing task (0 or 2 points). The total score is the sum of both components. A cutoff of \<3 is commonly used for classification. The Arabic version shows sensitivity of 92.9% and specificity of 34.3% (Albanna et al., 2017).
Time frame: 12 weeks
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