Effects of Motivational Interview-Based Cognitive Therapy in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Only Chinese-reading patients aged 20 to 64 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who were stable enough to consent were included, so results may not apply to people with cognitive impairment, substance use, severe communication problems or other severe mental illness. The study was done in two psychiatric teaching hospitals in northern Taiwan, so it may not generalise to other settings. Attrition was substantial: 21% at the fourth session and 9% at postintervention, and the limitations section reports 30% attrition. Follow-up stopped at 32 weeks, so long-term adherence after the intervention is unknown. Medication adherence was self-reported, and the authors note that nursing staff reminders may have inflated baseline scores. All participants continued usual psychiatric care, and MIBCT combined motivational interviewing, cognitive strategies and psychoeducation, so the contribution of each component cannot be separated. Only a master's-level psychiatric nurse with specific motivational interviewing training delivered the intervention, so routine delivery by ordinary nursing teams is not shown.

Do not conclude that MIBCT alone is responsible for the improvement or that it works long term. All participants continued usual psychiatric care, MIBCT combined motivational interviewing, cognitive strategies and psychoeducation, follow-up stopped at 32 weeks, and the primary adherence outcome was not significantly different at the fourth session.