Cognitive Treatments For Schizophrenia

Question 1

What is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) ?

Answer 1

-a therapy to help patient to identify and correct disorder and faulty thinking
- they need to understand what’s going on in the ‘black box’
- requires at least 16 sessions

Question 2

What is the process of CBT?

Answer 2

1. Assessment- for identification
2. ABC model
3. Normalisation- we all have delusional thoughts
4. Critical analysis- where is the evidence? E.g. if voices are real why can’t others hear them?

Question 3

Evaluation of CBT

Answer 3

+ effective

+ used in conjunction with drugs: Elmore effective than on their own

+ you have control: no control over drugs

+ no side effects

• no suitable for all patients: not everyone will be able to recognise the faulty thinking

Question 4

What is token economy?

Answer 4

• a form of bahaviour modification in institutions
• most successful psychological treatment
• operant learning
• rewards
• turning undesirable into desirable

Question 5

What is the process of token economy?

Answer 5

1. Identify desirable behaviours e.g. getting dressed
2. Offer tokens IMMEDIATELY when patient completes desirable behaviour
3. Allow tokens to be exchanged for a verity of things e.g. TV time, cigarettes

Question 6

Token economy evaluation

Answer 6

+ effectiveness: research shows that ‘good acts’ increase once there is something to gain

+ high response rates

• behaviour quickly deteriorated when the rewards stop
• only focuses on negative symptoms: meaning schizophrenia is only being partially treated
• patients might just mimic the desired behaviours not actually want to do them to get better