The STAM Method in the Rehabilitation of Attention and Memory in Schizophrenic Patients: a Further Single-blind, Controlled, Randomized Study

Authors:

Enrico Ceccato, Gabriella Piccione, Giuseppe Verzè & Paolo Caneva

Abstract:

A previous controlled, randomized study shows that the STAM protocol could be effective in the rehabilitation of memory in schizophrenic patients. Aim: the work presented is a replica of that study and aims at verifying the effectiveness of the STAM method. Method: in this study a pre-post experimental design is used with a matched control group. Fourteen patients were divided into two groups of seven people each. The experimental group was exposed to the STAM method, while the control group took part in a series of sessions during which participants listened to recorded music. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected: the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were the quantitative intruments used to appraise the effectiveness of the training. Qualitative element comprised an evaluative diary created ad hoc for this work and utilised to assess pre and post-session mood levels. Results: the subjects exposed to the STAM protocol presented significant improvements in performance on the PASAT (p=0.018). No other significant variation was noted following treatment. Qualitative data analysis revealed that the subjects in both groups tended to present improvements in mood levels after each session. Conclusions: the study provides different - though not contradictory - results with respect to the previous investigation. It would be necessary to conduct further investigations to study the effect of an increase in the number of patients involved in these studies.