The findings of this study highlight the weakness of the
evidence base for the effectiveness of activity groups for
people with psychosis. The low level of attendance at the
groups suggests that further effort needs to be made to
evaluate factors that influence attending activity groups and to
develop new approaches to engage people with psychosis in
social activities. Further qualitative research may help to
understand service user experiences of using social groups
and help design new approaches to engage people.
We did not find evidence that activity group treatment has
a positive effect on mental health symptoms, global functioning
or any of our secondary outcomes. However, within
group differences among those allocated to activity groups
supports future research in this area. Further research needs to
be undertaken to understand about how to engage people with
psychosis in social activities and clinical trials examining the
outcomes of these interventions if, recommendations that
these interventions for people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia
are to be sustained.