cognitive treatments of SZ: CBT

Question 1

strengths of CBT to treat sz
effectivness

Answer 1

Jahuar et al.- reviewed 34 studies of CBT finding small but significant effects on both positive and negative symptoms. and Pontillo et al. found a reduction in auditory hallucinations as a result of CBT.

Tarrier et al. found that people with schizophrenia receiving 20 sessions of CBT in 10 weeks, coupled with drug therapy, followed by 4 booster sessions during the next year, had a better reduction in symptoms than sufferers receiving drug therapy alone.

Trower et al. found that CBT did not actually reduce or get rid of hallucinations, but helped patients to feel less threatened by them.

NICE compared CBT to standard care (medication) finding a reduction in relapse rates, symptom severity and improved social functioning.
However, the CBT group were also commonly on medication so may only work in combination. Which reduces the validity of the findings.

Question 2

weakness of CBT to treat SZ
practicality

Answer 2

requires self awareness and willingness to engage which isnt always possible as some positive symptoms can lead to a lack of awareness and a reluctance to engage. Additionally there is the vigorous confrontation element which some may not want to engage with. Therefore its not suitable for all sufferers.

therapy is lengthy and time consuming as between 5 and 20 sessions are taken which can be more expensive than drug treatments or lead to drop outs.

Question 3

weakness of CBT to treat SZ
research support

Answer 3

issues with availability: NICE- only 1/10 get access to this therapy and Haddock found in a sample of SZ patients only 7% were offered it and even fewer attended.

Thomas- says that as different techniques are used with different samples across all studies of patients with different positive and negative symptoms so its hard to say how different symptoms are affected by different techniques as there is so much variety.