Psychological Therapy

Question 1

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Answer 1

1) Aims of CBT are to help clients identify irrational thoughts (e.g. delusions and hallucinations) and try to change them.
2) 5-20 sessions, individually or in a group.

3) Clients are helped to make sense of how their delusions and hallucinations impact on their behaviour.

E.g. CBT can help to reduce fear from delusions// hearing voices. Challenging delusions can help the patient to see that they are not based in reality.

Question 2

CBT - Research Support

Answer 2

Tarrier et al (2005)
1) A meta-analysis of 14 studies of CBT.
2) Found CBT significantly reduced positive symptoms.
–> CBT is beneficial in the short-term. But is usually paired with drug treatment for maximum benefits.
//
1) Jauhar et al. (2014) reviewed 34 studies of CBT for schizophrenia, and concluded that
there is evidence for significant effects on symptoms.

Question 3

Evaluation

Answer 3

Strengths:
- Large sample - generalisable
- Practical applications - useful & valuable

Limitations:
- Individual differences in patients - validity
- Variation in expertise of therapists

Question 4

Family Therapy

Answer 4

1) Family therapy aims to reduce levels of expressed emotion (EE), such as anger and guilt which create stress.
–> Reducing stress is important to reduce the likelihood of relapse.

2) The therapist encourages family members to form a therapeutic alliance whereby they all agree on the aims of therapy.

3) Tries to improve families’ beliefs about and behaviour towards schizophrenia.

4) And try to ensure that family achieve a balance between caring for the individual and maintaining their own lives.

Question 5

Strength of Family Therapy

Answer 5

EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVENESS

1) McFarlane (2016) concluded family therapy is effective for SZ. Relapse rates were reduced by 50-60%.

2) Particularly promising during time when mental health initially starts to decline.

–> This means that family therapy is good for people with both early and ‘full-blown’ schizophrenia.

Question 6

Strength of Family Therapy

Answer 6

BENEFITS THE WHOLE FAMILY

1) Therapy is not just for benefit of identified patient but also for the families that provide care for people with schizophrenia.

2) Family therapy lessens the negative impact of schizophrenia on the family and strengthens ability of the family to give support.

–> Has wider benefits beyond the obvious positive impact on the identified patient.