Table 1
Main findings of recent Meta-analyses regarding social skills training effects
Meta-analysis
Studies
included Outcome variable N Effect size
Pilling et al.
(2002) 9 RCT
Relapse 235 0.17 (-0.14 to 0.46)
Social functioning 63 N/A
Pfammatter,
Junghan, &
Brenner
(2006)
19 RCT
Skills acquisition 688 0.77 (0.62 to 0.93)
Social functioning 342 0.39 (0.19 to 0.59)
Skills acquisition (1-year FU) 295 0.52 (0.28 to 0.77)
Social functioning (1-year FU) 210 0.32 (0.08 to 0.56)
Relapse (hospitalization) (1-year) 110 0.48 (0.11 to 0.86)
Kurtz &
Mueser
(2008)
23 RCT
Content mastery N/A 1.20 (0.96 to 1.43)
Living skills N/A 0.52 (0.34 to 0.71)
Community functioning N/A 0.52 (0.31 to 0.73)
Negative symptoms N/A 0.40 (0.19 to 0.61)
Relapse (1-year) N/A 0.23 (0.04 to 0.41)
Note: RCT= randomized clinical trial; FU=Follow-up; N/A= Not applicable.