CBT

Question 1

What is the type of CBT used to treat schizophrenia referred to as?

Answer 1

CBTp

Question 2

How many sessions does CBTp last and with who?

Answer 2

• between 5-20 sessions either in groups or on an individual basis

Question 3

What is the aim of CBT?

Answer 3

• the aim involves helping patients identify irrational thoughts and trying to change them

Question 4

How may CBTp achieve its aim?

Answer 4

• by argument or discussion on how likely the patients beliefs are to be true and a consideration of other less threatening possibilities

Question 5

What will CBTp not do?

Answer 5

• get rid of the symptoms of schizophrenia but it will help the patient to deal with them

Question 6

In CBT, what are patients helped to make sense of?

Answer 6

• how their delusions and hallucinations affect their feelings and behaviour
• just understanding where symptoms come from can be hugely helpful for patients

Question 7

How may CBTp help a patient who is hearing voices?

Answer 7

• if the patient hears voices and believes that they are demons, they will naturally be very afraid, offering psychological explanations for the existence of hallucinations and delusions can be very helpful and reduce this anxiety.

Question 8

Why does CBT challenge delusions?

Answer 8

• delusions can be challenges so that a patient can come to learn that their beliefs are not based on reality

Question 9

Evaluation: Effectiveness

Answer 9

• Strength = evidence for its effectiveness
• Jauhar et al: reviewed 34 studies of using CBT with schizophrenia, concluding that there is clear evidence for small but significant effects on both positive and negative symptoms.
• Pontillo et al: found reductions in frequency and severity of auditory hallucinations.
• Clinical advice by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) recommends CBT for schizophrenia.

Question 10

Evaluation: Does CBT cure?

Answer 10

• CBT may improve the quality of life for people with schizophrenia but not actually ‘cure’ them.
• As schizophrenia appears to be a largely biological condition, we would expect that a psychological therapy just benefits people by improving their ability to live with schizophrenia.
• But, studies report significant reductions in the severity of both positive and negative symptoms which suggests that CBT does more than just enhance coping.