Purpose. The present study aims to verify the effectiveness of
the reality therapy for patients with schizophrenia.
Methods. It is designed as a quasi-experimental study by
which a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest is
conducted. The test was conducted with 30 patients with
schizophrenia who were hospitalized at a mental
hospital in South Korea. Fifteen of the patients participated in
the reality therapy program while another 15
in the control group. The effects are measured by marking
scores in the areas of the locus of control, selfesteem,
and problem-focused stress coping of each participant.
Results. The general characteristics and dependent variables
related to outcome variables were controlled to be
equal between the two groups. It turns out that the internal
locus of control, self-esteem, and problemfocused
stress coping are statistically significant.
Conclusion. Findings show that the reality therapy caused
positive changes in terms of the internal locus of control,
self-esteem, and problem-focused stress coping of the
observed schizophrenic patients.