AO3

• In support of the effectiveness of CBTp,

  -NICE (2014) found that CBTp was effective in reducing rehospitalisation rates up to 18 months following the treatment.

  -CBTp was also effective in reducing symptom severity when compared to patients receiving standard care (medication only).
• However, most of these studies were conducted whils

  -patients were still on medication therefore it can be difficult to assess the true effectiveness of CBTp.
• However, CBTp may be less effective for patients with severe symptoms or poor insight into their condition.

  -For instance, people experiencing intense delusions may struggle to engage with the logical reasoning and reflection CBTp requires. -This means that the therapy might only be suitable for certain patients or stages of the illness, limiting its overall usefulness. -Therefore, while CBTp can be effective, it is not a universal treatment for all individuals with schizophrenia.
• Another weakness is that The success of CBTp can depend heavily on the therapeutic relationship and patient engagement.

  -Studies show that patients who trust their therapist and actively participate in sessions are far more likely to benefit from the therapy.-This introduces variability in effectiveness and means outcomes can be inconsistent across patients and practitioners. -Therefore, the reliability and standardisation of CBTp as a treatment may be limited.
• A strength is that CBTp can reduce the likelihood of future relapse and hospitalisation.

  -For example, Sensky et al. (2000) found that patients who received CBTp showed continued improvement even 9 months after treatment ended, whereas those in a control group did not. -This shows that CBTp doesn’t just have short-term effects — it can help patients stay well in the long term.

  -Therefore, CBTp contributes to better long-term outcomes and reduces the social and financial burden of repeated hospital admission
• Another strength is that CBTp can target a wide range of symptoms, not just hallucinations and delusions.

  -Therapists can help patients tackle negative symptoms like low motivation or social withdrawal by setting achievable goals and restructuring negative thought patterns.-This versatility makes CBTp a more comprehensive treatment, tackling aspects of schizophrenia that medication often cannot address.-Therefore, CBTp offers a broader therapeutic benefit, enhancing day-to-day functioning as well as reducing distress.