CBT AO1 & AO3

Question 1

CBT

Answer 1

• Psychological treatments work by targeting the faulty thought processes in schizophrenic patients.
• One method of treatment is CBT which helps patients to identify faulty thoughts and try to change them.
• It helps patients make sense of how delusions and hallucinations impact their feelings and behaviour, thus helping to reduce anxiety

Question 2

Additionally the appropriateness of CBT has been questioned as there is a high dropout rate.

Answer 2

• This is due to the high level of commitment that is needed for the treatment to be effective.
• A SZ patient may find it hard to keep up this commitment as they are struggling with the symptoms of SZ.
• Therefore it is only appropriate for those who can engage with the programme, not with those who have severe SZ.

Question 3

One strength of CBT as a treatment of SZ is that there is supporting research to show its effectiveness

Answer 3

• For example, Sameer used 34 case studies and concluded that CBT has a significant, but fairly small effect on type 1 and 2 schizophrenia.
• This shows CBT is effective in counteracting the effects of SZ and thus improving the quality of life of patients.
• However this is a fairly small sample and does not take into account any other forms of treatment that the patients may have been undergoing.
• Therefore, findings may lack validity and so it has limited usefulness