Psychological Therapy for Schizophrenia

• How does Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) assist clients with irrational cognitions?

  It helps clients understand the impact on feelings and behavior
• Why is understanding the origin of symptoms beneficial for clients?

  It helps those with symptoms cope better
• What is the effect of CBT on schizophrenia symptoms?

  It does not eliminate symptoms but aids coping
• How does CBT improve a client's functioning?

  By reducing distress and enhancing coping abilities
• What is the purpose of normalization in therapy?

  To help individuals re-appraise their experiences
• What evidence supports the effectiveness of CBT for schizophrenia?

  • Jauhar et al (2014) reviewed 34 studies
  • Found small but significant effects on symptoms
  • NICE (2019) recommends CBT for schizophrenia
• Why is it difficult to assess the effectiveness of CBT for schizophrenia?

  Techniques and symptoms vary across cases
• What did Thomas (2015) highlight about CBT studies?

  Different studies used various CBT techniques
• What is the aim of family therapy in the context of schizophrenia?

  To improve communication and reduce family stress
• What strategies do family therapists use to improve family functioning?

  • Reduces negative emotions
  • Improves family's ability to help
• What are the phases of Burbach's model for family therapy with schizophrenia?

  1. Sharing information and support
  2. Identifying family resources
  3. Encouraging mutual understanding
  4. Identifying unhelpful interaction patterns
  5. Skills training for stress management
  6. Relapse prevention planning
  7. Future maintenance
• What did McFarlane (2016) conclude about family therapy for schizophrenia?

  It is consistently effective, reducing relapse rates
• What is the benefit of family therapy beyond the identified patient?

  It strengthens the whole family's functioning
• What did Lobban & Barrowclough (2016) conclude about family therapy?

  It lessens the negative impact on families
• What is a strength for CBT as a treatment of Schizophrenia?

  Evidence for Effectiveness

  • Jauhar et al (2014) reviewed 34 studies of using CBT with schizophrenia, concluding that there is clear evidence for small but significant effects on both positive and negative symptoms
  • Clinical advice from NICE (2019) recommends CBT for schizophrenia
  • This means that both research and clinical experience support the benefits of CBT for schizophrenia
• What is a limitation for CBT as a treatment of Schizophrenia?

  Quality of Evidence

  • CBT techniques and schizophrenia symptoms vary from one case to another
  • Thomas (2015) points out that different studies have involved the use of different CBT techniques and people with different combinations of positive and negative symptoms, and the overall modest benefits of CBT for schizophrenia probably conceal of a variety of effects of different CBT techniques on different symptoms
  • This makes it hard to say how effective CBT will be for a particular person with schizophrenia 
• What is a strength for Family Therapy as a treatment for Schizophrenia?

  Evidence for Effectiveness

  • McFarlane (2016) concluded that family therapy was one of the most consistently effective treatments for schizophrenia, and relapse rates were found to be reduced by 50 - 60%
  • McFarlane also concluded that using family therapy as mental health initially starts to decline is promising and clinical advice from NICE recommends family therapy for everyone with a diagnosis of schizophrenia 
  • This means that family therapy is likely to be of benefit to people with schizophrenia
• What is a strength for Family Therapy as a treatment for Schizophrenia?

  Benefits to Whole Family

  • Therapy is not just the benefit of the identified patient but also for the families that provide the bulk of care
  • Lobban et al (2016) concluded that these effects are important because families provide the bulk of care for people with schizophrenia, and by strengthening the functioning of a whole family, family therapy lessens the negative impact of schizophrenia on other family members
  • This means that family therapy has wider benefits beyond the positive impact on the identified patient