Metaglossotherapy in Treatment of Schizophrenia

Abstract

Metaglossotherapy (MGT) is the method of treating schizophrenic patients by teaching them a new foreign language. Training of brain and establishing new associations during the course of MGT treatment has a positive influence on schizophrenic patients.Aim:To evaluate the efficacy of MGT in treating schizophrenic patients.Methods:7 long-stay male schizophrenic patients took part in the program, which lasted 5 months, 5 sessions of MGT a week. Patients were learning English. Evoked potential N400 was registered at baseline and after MGT in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy. Dynamics of mental state was evaluated with help of PANSS.Results:During MGT significant changes in motivation, behavior, non-verbal expressions and emotional state of patients were observed. PANSS: negative and positive symptoms became milder, changes are statistically significant. N400 responses of schizophrenic patient do not depend on the congruity of sentence endings. Compared with healthy subjects patients generate N400 with smaller amplitude and larger latency.Conclusions:Application of MGT can create possibilities for schizophrenic patients for better relationships with the environment, to help them overcome social and emotional isolation. It is very important that activities would be led by the persons who have practical experience to work with schizophrenic patients. MGT may affect patient's response to semantic congruent sentences.