A01

• What are 3 psychological therapies for schizophrenia?

  1. Cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp)
  2. Family Therapy
  3. Token Economies
• What is cognitive behavioural therapy?

  A combination of cognitive therapy (a way of changing maladaptive thoughts and beliefs) and behavioural therapy (a way of changing behaviour in response to these thoughts and beliefs)
• What is the main aim of CBTp?

  To help patients identify, challenge and correct their irrational thoughts and faulty interpretations of the world that lead to delusions (reality testing)
• What framework does CBTp make use of?

  Ellis’ ABCDE model
• How does the ABCDE model work?

  • Identify activating events (A) which trigger irrational beliefs (B) and cause emotional and behavioural consequences (C)
  • The beliefs can be disputed (D) and changed leading to an effect (E) which is the restructured belief
• What is normalisation?

  • Therapist shares with patient that many people have unusual experiences such as hallucinations and delusions in many different circumstances
  • This reduces anxiety and the sense of isolation by making the patient feel less alienated and stigmatised which makes possibility of recovery seem more likely
• What behavioural assignments can be set during CBTp?

  Tasks to improve general level of functioning - shower everyday, go out and socialise with friends
• Cognitive Restructuring via ABCDE Framework

  • A = activating event e.g. social situations, arguing with family member
  • B = exploring beliefs e.g. mafia is trying to kill them
  • C = recognising consequences e.g. withdrawing from society, hiding from friends and family and taking steps to defend themselves
  • D = disputing irrational beliefs e.g. gentle questioning to help patient challenge illogical conclusions ‘if your voices are real, why can no one else hear them?’
  • E = effect-restructured belief e.g. ’there could be other possibilities for this paranoia, I don’t know that it’s the Mafia’