#occupational_therapy #intervention #hope-s # # Functional Adaptation Skills Training (FAST) https://cdc.thehcn.net/promisepractice/index/view?pid=852 Functional Adaptation Skills Training (FAST) is an intervention for adult patients 40 years and older living in board-and-care facilities who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The intervention is manualized and based on social cognitive theory and independent living skills programs. FAST targets six areas of everyday functioning: medication management, social skills, communication skills, organization and planning, transportation, and financial management. Participants in FAST meet once per week, in a group format, over the course of 24 weeks. Each session lasts approximately 2 hours and is led by a master's- or doctoral-level therapist or by a nursing paraprofessional in the board-and-care facility. Studies have shown that FAST-treated patients' performance on everyday living skills improved significantly compared to non-participants. They also demonstrated significant improvement in social and communication skills at 6-month follow-up. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0920996406002404?via%3Dihub ![[A randomized trial of a psychosocial intervention for middle-aged and older patients with chronic psychotic disorders.pdf]] The FAST intervention was designed to improve functional skills among middle-aged and older patients with schizophrenia or a schizoaffective disorder. The intervention targets six areas of everyday functioning: medication management, social skills, communication skills, organization and planning, transportation, and financial management. Participants in the FAST pro- gram meet once per week over the course of 24 weeks. Each session lasted approximately 120 min and employed a group format. Class sessions consisted of the following components: (a) a review of the current week's agenda; (b) review of homework; (c) reinforce- ment of homework concepts; (d) discussion of how homework exercises apply to real-world skills (i.e., generalization); (e) presentation of new material using psychoeducative techniques; (f) in-session practice, including behavioral modeling, role-playing, and rein- forcement; (g) summarization of session material; and (h) assignment of homework for next session. ---- Functional Adaptation Skills Training (FAST) A Pilot Psychosocial Intervention Study in Middle-Aged and Older Patients With Chronic Psychotic Disorders ![[Functional Adaptation Skills Training.pdf]]