CBT and family therapy

• cognative behavioural therapy

  Patients are taught to recognise examples of dysfunctional or delusional thinking and receive help on how to avoid acting on these thoughts.

  This will not get rid of the symptoms but can make it easier for patients to cope with them
• ABC model:

  A    Activating event – identify what’s triggering the problem

  B   Behaviour – how do you react to there situations?

  C   Consequences – what impact does this have on you/others?
• CBT

  After helping the patients to rationalise their thoughts, therapists help them understand their thoughts/symptoms and to normalise them.

  This helps patients to reduce their stress, confusion and shame around their symptoms
• strength

  Jauhar (2014) reviewed 34 studies of CBT for SZ and found that it had a significant (but small) effect on reducing both positive and negative symptoms. Research supports the benefits of CBT for the treatment of SZ
• weakness

  CBT techniques and SZ symptoms vary widely from one case to another and some CBT techniques work better for some patients and symptoms than others. It is hard to say how effective CBT would be for a specific patient due to the inconsistencies in delivery. 
• weakness

  CBT requires a willingness to engage for it to be effective and this can be difficult for patients dependent on their symptoms. CBT is also lengthy and has high drop out rates. CBT may not be an effective treatment for all patients, particularly if they have symptoms such as avolition.
• Family therapy takes places with the families and the patients and aims to improve the quality of communication, understanding and support from the family.

  It helps to reduce the likelihood of relapse and hospital readmission
• family therapy

  Family's are taught to:

  •Have weekly family meetings to solve conflicts

  •Improve beliefs and knowledge around SZ

  •Develop their communication skills

  •Help family members develop a balance between supporting the patient and their own life.
• strength

  A review of studies found family therapy was one of the most consistently effective treatments, with relapse rates decreasing by 50-60%. Family therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and relapse rates
• strength

  Family therapy benefits the whole family and strengthening the functioning of the whole family improves the families ability to support the patient and improves quality of life. Family therapy has wider benefits beyond the impact on the patient
• weakness

  Neither CBT nor family therapy cure Schizophrenia, however they do improve the quality of life. Treatment may need to be long term to support the treatment of symptoms