CBT

• What are the two aspects of CBT?

  • Disputing negative thoughts
  • Exchanging them with positive ones
• How can a therapist dispute negative thoughts?

  • Asking the patient to examine if their belief makes sense
  • Asking the patient if the belief matches reality - can they prove it?
  • Emphasising that the belief is not helpful even if true. The patient will be asked to reflect on the effect the belief is having on them
• Homework:

  • Patients may be given homework between sessions.
  • This will involve carrying out behaviours to 'test' their beliefs against reality
  • This is another way to challenge irrational beliefs
• Strength of CBT - Research into effectiveness:

  • Conclusions from meta-analysis have shown that a combination of CBT and medication is more effective than the medication alone

  HOWEVER:

  • It is difficult to assess the effectiveness of CBT alone as patients are almost always treated with drugs at the same time
• Limitation of CBT - Not a cure:

  • The treatment helps patients to deal with their symptoms and recognise their thought as irrational
  • However the delusions and hallucinations are still present
• Limitation of CBT - Patients not always able to engage:

  Some extreme cases of Sz may not be able to engage with the therapy properly