Project Summary

Mark Sergi, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2005) of California State College in Northridge, notes that approximately 50 percent of persons with schizophrenia abuse illegal substances, which exacerbates the symptoms of schizophrenia. Utilizing subjects that will participate in a behavioral skills training program specifically designed for substance abusing persons with schizophrenia (Substance Abuse Management Module or SAMM), Dr. Sergi will administer a pre- and post-test called the SAMM Content Mastery Test for Patients (SAMM CMTP), to evaluate the ability of learning potential assessments to predict sobriety skill acquisition in person with schizophrenia. He will also compare the effectiveness of errorless learning—based on sobriety skills training and conventional sobriety skills training for persons with schizophrenia who are high or low in learning potential. He has recently found that learning potential, an indicator of learning ability, predicted skill acquisition in persons with schizophrenia above and beyond the prediction offered by standard neurocognitive assessments. Based on his findings, Dr. Sergi believes that learning potential assessments can identify those persons with schizophrenia who are unable to benefit from conventional skills training and that errorless learning—based skills training can help these persons acquire the functional skills they need to live more independent and productive lives.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia\Substance Abuse

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