Summary: Cognitive Behavior Therapy For Schizophrenia
Treatment for schizophrenia
As several factors are involved in the aetiology of schizophrenia, comprehensive treatment may require a combination of several treatment methods. As it is not realistic for every patient to receive a combination of several treatments, clinicians should devise individualised treatment plans taking into consideration patient’s background and their most severe and harmful symptomology.
Biological treatments
Antipsychotic drugs
Antipsychotic drugs are typically an efficacious treatment for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia (Foussias & Remington, 2010). Most antipsychotics are thought to reduce positive symptoms because they block dopamine receptors. Therefore, their effectiveness reinforces the dopamine hypothesis. …show more content…
A recent meta-analysis concludes that CBTp is most effective at improving negative symptoms (Naeem et al., 2016). CBTp can also reduce auditory hallucinations (van der Gaag, Valmaggia & Smit, 2014) and is effective at reducing delusions (Mehl, Werner & Lincoln, 2015; Serruya & Grant, 2009). Furthermore, CBTp can help patients to cope with side effects from antipsychotics which may improve their adherence to, and therefore the effectiveness of, their medication. Perhaps CBTp could also reduce safety behaviours that negatively reinforce delusions (Freeman et al., 2007). Unfortunately, cognitive behavioural therapies can be time consuming as multiple sessions are required. This is expensive to provide and there are often issues with patients’ attendance (Karbasi, Arman & Maracy, 2010).
Social skills training
For comprehensive treatment of schizophrenia, it is vital to rebuild skills that are lost due to its symptoms. The negative symptoms of schizophrenia often cause social withdrawal and inappropriate social behaviours. These social deficits are usually negatively reinforced, causing them to worsen. Social skills training focusses on appropriate conversational skills, physical gestures, eye-contact and facial expressions. It has been found to moderately improve social and daily living skills, community functioning and to reduce negative symptoms (Kurtz & Mueser, 2008).
Cognitive remediation
As several factors are involved in the aetiology of schizophrenia, comprehensive treatment may require a combination of several treatment methods. As it is not realistic for every patient to receive a combination of several treatments, clinicians should devise individualised treatment plans taking into consideration patient’s background and their most severe and harmful symptomology.
Biological treatments
Antipsychotic drugs
Antipsychotic drugs are typically an efficacious treatment for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia (Foussias & Remington, 2010). Most antipsychotics are thought to reduce positive symptoms because they block dopamine receptors. Therefore, their effectiveness reinforces the dopamine hypothesis. …show more content…
A recent meta-analysis concludes that CBTp is most effective at improving negative symptoms (Naeem et al., 2016). CBTp can also reduce auditory hallucinations (van der Gaag, Valmaggia & Smit, 2014) and is effective at reducing delusions (Mehl, Werner & Lincoln, 2015; Serruya & Grant, 2009). Furthermore, CBTp can help patients to cope with side effects from antipsychotics which may improve their adherence to, and therefore the effectiveness of, their medication. Perhaps CBTp could also reduce safety behaviours that negatively reinforce delusions (Freeman et al., 2007). Unfortunately, cognitive behavioural therapies can be time consuming as multiple sessions are required. This is expensive to provide and there are often issues with patients’ attendance (Karbasi, Arman & Maracy, 2010).
Social skills training
For comprehensive treatment of schizophrenia, it is vital to rebuild skills that are lost due to its symptoms. The negative symptoms of schizophrenia often cause social withdrawal and inappropriate social behaviours. These social deficits are usually negatively reinforced, causing them to worsen. Social skills training focusses on appropriate conversational skills, physical gestures, eye-contact and facial expressions. It has been found to moderately improve social and daily living skills, community functioning and to reduce negative symptoms (Kurtz & Mueser, 2008).
Cognitive remediation