AO3 - CBT

• Research into the effectiveness of CBT was carried out by Jauhar et al. They reviewed the results of 34 studies of CBT as a treatment for sz. They concluded that CBT has a significant but small effect on both positive and negative symptoms. Demonstrating that CBT is fairly effective in treating sz and that by challenging patients irrational thoughts it can reduce symptoms of SZ. However, it is worth noting that out of the 34 studies, CBT only had a small impact on SZ symptoms. Therefore, placing doubt on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy as a treatment for schizophrenia.
• A limitation of CBT is that it requires motivation and commitment from patients to attend sessions, this is something that individuals suffering from negative symptoms of sz often lack. CBT also requires a patient to engage with the therapy, however, somebody with positive symptoms of sz may have an inaccurate perception of reality. Therefore, in some cases of sz, CBT is only effective when combined with antipsychotics. This is because the drugs help the patient to motivate themselves to attend the sessions/increase awareness. Therefore, CBT alone may not be an effective treatment for sz.
• Some may prefer this therapy as it avoids the chemical dependence. This is because CBT encourages individuals to identify and challenge their irrational/delusional thoughts independently, giving them control over their own behaviour. This is unlike drug therapy, which imposes the chemical straitjacket as the drug controls activity of neurotransmitters in the brain such as dopamine to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, which could cause dependence. Due to this, some may prefer CBT as a more appropriate treatment for schizophrenia.
• An alternative therapy that may be useful is art therapy. This is less well known/less likely to be available. Art therapy takes place with a specially trained art teacher who has worked with patients with sz and allows patients to interpret their emotions, and express them without using words, in a safe environment. It also acts as a healthy form of distraction from various symptoms, like disturbing thoughts, hearing voices which may lead to less anxiety rather than challenging the thoughts as they would in CBT. Therefore, art therapy may be more appropriate treatment than CBT for sz.