Effects of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment-BIG on Motor, Cognition, Mental Health, Occupational Performance, and Occupational Balance in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Single-Subject Experimental Study

TL;DR

This study shows that Lee Silverman Voice Treatment-BIG improves motor and cognitive function in chronic schizophrenia patients, positively affecting mental health and daily task performance.

Contribution

The study is the first to apply BIG to schizophrenia, showing its benefits beyond Parkinson's disease.

Findings

BIG significantly improved motor function as measured by TUG and FRT.

Cognitive function improved as shown by MoCA scores during the intervention.

Psychiatric symptoms and occupational balance improved post-intervention.

Abstract

Introduction: In this study, we aim to apply BIG to patients with schizophrenia to confirm changes in mental symptoms, task performance, and occupational balance through motor and cognitive enhancement.

Method: This study used a single-subject A-B-A design. It consisted of a total of 22 sessions, with 4 sessions in the baseline period, 16 sessions in the intervention period (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment-BIG), and 2 sessions in the follow-up period. The subjects were three male patients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia, all severe cases. During the 22 sessions, the timed up and go test (TUG) and functional reach test (FRT) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were used to determine changes in motor function and cognition, and the subjective cognitive and mental score (SS), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and Occupational Balance Questionnaire-Korean (OBQ-K) were used to determine changes in psychiatric symptoms, work performance, and work balance satisfaction before and after the intervention. Statistically significant changes were determined using the two standard deviation (2SD) band method.

Results: The TUG, FRT, and MoCA showed significant results in the intervention period compared to the baseline period. The SS, COPM, and OBQ-K also showed positive changes in scores from pre- to postintervention.

Conclusion: In this study, BIG was found to promote improvement in motor and cognitive function in chronic schizophrenia patients, with positive effects on psychiatric symptoms, task performance, and occupational balance satisfaction.

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