A 6-Month Randomized Controlled Pilot Study on the Effects of the Clubhouse Model of Psychosocial Rehabilitation with Chinese Individuals with Schizophrenia

To investigate the effectiveness of the Clubhouse Model of Psychosocial Rehabilitation on psychosocial functions and recovery of native Chinese individuals with schizophrenia in a community sample. A randomized controlled design was used. A total of 56 participants were recruited from a community sample for a study lasting 6 months, but five participants dropped out. Twenty-eight participants attended the Clubhouse program, and twenty-three participants served as controls. Standardized assessments were performed on three areas at the baseline and the 6-month follow-up: 1. symptom reduction; 2. social function, self-determination, and quality of life; and 3. rehospitalization rate. Compared to the controls, the Clubhouse participants showed reductions in psychiatric symptoms and better social function, self-determination, and quality of life (p < .05), but with no difference in the rehospitalization rate between Clubhouse members and the controls. The Clubhouse Model demonstrates its effectiveness and shows its viability as a service delivery model in psychosocial rehabilitation for individuals with schizophrenia in mainland China.