Psychological therapies for schizophrenia

Question 1

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)

Answer 1

a method for treating mental disorders based on both cognitive and behavioural techniques. From the cognitive viewpoint the therapy aims to deal with thinking, such as challenging negative thoughts. The therapy also includes behavioural techniques

Question 2

How does CBT help

Answer 2

• to make sense of how their delusions and hallucinations impact on their feelings and behaviour.
• delusions can also be challenged so that a patient can come to learn that their beliefs are not based on reality

Question 3

Family therapy

Answer 3

a psychological therapy carried out with all or some members of a family with the aim of improving their communication and reducing the stress of living as a family

Question 4

How family therapy helps

Answer 4

PHAROAH

• forming a therapeutic alliance with all family members
• reducing the stress of caring for a relative with schizophrenia
• improving the ability of the family to anticipate and solve problems
• reduction of anger and guilt in family members
• helping family members achieve a balance between caring for the individual with schizophrenia and maintaining for their own lives
• improving families’ beliefs about and behaviour towards schizophrenia

Question 5

Token economies

Answer 5

a form of behavioural therapy, where desirable behaviours are encouraged by the use of selective reinforcement.

e.g. patients are given rewards (tokens) as secondary reinforces when they engage in correct/ socially desirable behaviours.

The tokens can be exchanged for primary reinforcers - favourite foods or privileges

behavioural therapy based on operant conditioning

Question 6

Tokens

Answer 6

idea that ‘coloured discs’ are given immediately to patented when they have carried our a desirable behaviour that has been targeted for reinforcement.

This immediacy of reward is important because it prevents’ delay discounting’, the reduced effect of a delayed reward

secondary reinforcers

Question 7

Rewards

Answer 7

although the tokens have no value in themselves they can be swapped for later for more tangible rewards.

might be in form of materials such as sweets, cigarettes or magazines or rather m the form of services such as having room cleaned or privileges such as walk outside the hospital