Moderators of behavioral activation versus treatment as usual effects on negative symptoms in patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder.
Stephen F Smagula, Ye-Seul Kim, Eunbyeol Lee et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of Behavioral Activation (BA) compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU) for negative symptoms in patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder. The study identified seven PANSS items as negative moderators, where greater severity correlated with lower efficacy of BA. In a subgroup of 20%, response rates were similar for both treatments, while in the majority subgroup, BA showed a response rate of 58% compared to 20% for TAU.
Key findings
- BA showed a response rate of 58% compared to 20% for TAU in the majority subgroup.
- In a minority subgroup, response rates were 60% for TAU and 50% for BA.
- Seven PANSS items were identified as negative moderators affecting BA efficacy.
- Effect size estimates for negative moderators ranged from -0.45 to -0.25.
Why it matters
Understanding the moderators of treatment efficacy can guide clinicians in personalizing interventions for patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder, potentially improving outcomes by identifying those who may benefit more from BA versus TAU.