Psychological Therapies

• What is the focus of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for schizophrenia?


  Identifying irrational thoughts to change behaviors
• How does CBT help clients with schizophrenia?

  By changing irrational thoughts to improve feelings
• How many sessions does CBT typically involve?

  1. 20 individual or group sessions
• What is the process of normalisation in CBT for schizophrenia?

  Making symptoms less distressing by explanation
• How can normalisation help clients with hallucinations?

  By explaining hallucinations as brain faults
• What is reality-testing in CBT?

  Challenging the likelihood of a delusion's truth
• Who supported the concept of reality-testing in CBT?

  Turkington, 2004
• What is the benefit of offering alternative explanations in reality-testing?

  It helps clients feel less distressed
• What are some techniques used in CBT for schizophrenia?

  • Self-distraction techniques
  • Reality-testing
  • Positive self-talk strategies
  • Focusing on objects in the room
• What can CBT techniques help relieve in clients with schizophrenia?

  Anxiety and depression associated with schizophrenia
• What is the main goal of CBT techniques for schizophrenia?

  To relieve anxiety and depression
• What is reality-testing? 


  • where the therapist and client work through a delusion to challenge the likelihood that its true
• what is normalisation? 


  • the process of making the symptoms of schizophrenia less distressing by explaining where hallucinations come from
• give an example of normalisation 


  • instead of thinking the hallucination is a demonic force they are taught it is a faulty speech centre in the brain
  • this makes them less disstressed so more able to function in society
• Who’s theory is CBT based off and what is the principle? 


  • Becks theory
  • identifying irrational thoughts and looking at how they make us feel can help change behaviour of clients
• Give one strength of CBT 


  • Jathat et al (2014) proves CBT works
  • NICE even recommends it for people with mental health issues
• give one limitation of CBT


  • Thomas (2015) shows wide range of techniques so CBT lacks reliability
  • effective for some and not others
• give another limitation of CBT


  • Biological therapy needed too, not just CBT
  • antipsychotics are more effective for most