A03

• Point: A strength of CBT for schizophrenia is the evidence for its effectiveness.

  Evidence: For example, Jauhar (2014) reviewed 34 studies on CBT for schizophrenia, revealing small but significant effects on both positive and negative symptoms. 

  Explain: Other studies found reductions in the frequency and severity of auditory hallucinations and clinical advice from NICE recommends CBT for schizophrenia.

  Link: Therefore, this suggests that both research and clinical experience support the benefits of CBT for managing schizophrenia symptoms.
• Point: A limitation of CBT for schizophrenia is the wide range of techniques and symptoms included in studies.

  Evidence: For example, Thomas (2015) pointed out that different studies involved various CBT techniques and people with different combinations of positive and negative symptoms.

  Explain: This means that the overall modest benefits of CBT for schizophrenia likely conceal a wide variety of effects of different CBT techniques on different symptoms.

  Link: Therefore, this suggests that it is challenging to predict how effective CBT will be for a particular person with schizophrenia.
• One :) of family therapy for schizophrenia is evidence of its effectiveness.

  e.g, McFarlane (2016) concluded that family therapy is one of the most consistently effective treatments for schizophrenia, particularly in reducing relapse rates by 50-60%. 

  McFarlane also noted the promise of using family therapy as mental health initially starts to decline and clinical advice from NICE recommends family therapy for everyone with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

  :, this suggests that family therapy is effective in both reducing relapse rates and beneficial in early stages of mental health decline.
• A further :) of family therapy for schizophrenia is the benefits for all family members.

  Lobban and Barrowclough (2016) concluded that family therapy strengthens the functioning of the entire family, who provide the bulk of care for people with schizophrenia.

  This means that by enhancing family functioning, family therapy lessens the negative impact of schizophrenia on other family members and strengthens the family’s ability to support the person with schizophrenia.

  Therefore, this suggests that family therapy has wider benefits beyond the obvious positive impact on the identified patient.