A01

• 1.Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is a lengthy but effective treatment for schizophrenia, often spanning 5-20 sessions in groups or individually. By addressing both thoughts and behaviours, CBT helps patients understand how irrational cognitions, like delusions and hallucinations, affect their feelings and actions. Normalisation techniques, such as explaining that voices are a common extension of thought, can alleviate fear. Reality testing challenges delusions, while addressing anxiety and depression improves coping.
• 2. Family therapy is crucial, aiming to enhance communication and reduce negative emotions within the family unit. Therapists foster a therapeutic alliance among family members, helping them balance care for the individual with maintaining their own lives. Strategies like reducing expressed emotion and improving beliefs about schizophrenia aid in relapse prevention.
• 3. A proposed model of such therapy involves progressive phases, starting with basic support and information sharing, advancing through resource identification, mutual understanding, interaction pattern recognition, skill training, relapse prevention planning, and long-term maintenance. This comprehensive approach aims to improve family dynamics and support systems for individuals with schizophrenia.