SEAiN
SEAiN-Project: Synthesizing Evidence And Individual Needs
An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis of Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST)
Project Summary
This project pools individual participant data from randomized controlled trials of Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST) for people with schizophrenia. The aim is to better understand how CBSST improves psychosocial functioning and negative symptoms (e.g., amotivation, anhedonia), which patients benefit most, and how treatment characteristics (e.g., dose, setting) are related to outcomes.
Aims
- Quantify the effects of CBSST on psychosocial functioning
- Examine moderators (e.g., age, symptom severity) and mediators (e.g., improved cognitive functioning) of treatment outcome
- Derive practical implications for personalized, guideline-consistent treatment for schizophrenia
Project Staff
Dr. Matthias Pillny Yana Lawrenz Paula Serpé
Collaborations
The project is based at the University of Hamburg (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy) and builds on close international collaborations:
- Prof. Eric Granholm, University of California, San Diego, USA
- Dr. Jason Holden, University of California, San Diego, USA
- Dr. Peter Link, University of California, San Diego, USA
- Dr. Dan Devoe, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Canada
Study Protocol
The detailed study protocol of the IPD meta-analysis is available as an open-access:
Pillny, M., Holden, J., Devoe, D. et al. Effect of cognitive behavioral social skills training on functioning in schizophrenia: protocol for an individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized-control trials. Syst Rev 15, 87 (2026). doi: 10.1186/s13643-026-03124-x.
Funding & Timeline
This research is supported by the Christoph-Dornier-Stiftung for Clinical Psychology.
Project start: March 2026.
Principal Investigator & Contact
Dr. Matthias Pillny(matthias.pillny"AT"uni-hamburg.de)
University of Hamburg – Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy