Psychological therapy for schizophrenia Flashcards
How many sessions does cognitive behaviour therapy take place over for schizophrenia?
5-20
How does cognitive behaviour therapy work in treating schizophrenia
Helps client understand how irrational cognitions impact their feelings and behaviour
Doesn’t stop symptoms but can help cope with them
= - stress/+ ability to function
Example of how CBT helps schizophrenic patient to better cope with symptoms
Patient scared of voices as believes they are demons
Therapist assures them it is malfunctioning speech centre in brain and can’t hurt them
= Much less scary/debilitating
How can delusions be challenged through CBT
Reality testing:
-Patient/therapist examine likelihood that beliefs are true
What are the aims of family therapy
Improve quality of communication within fam/reduce stress
What strategies are used in family therapy for schizophrenia
Pharoh et al (2010):
Reducing negative emotion
Improving family’s ability to help
How does family therapy help reduce negative emotion
Aims to reduce expressed emotion
-This reduces stress and therefore chances of relapse
How does family therapy help improve the family’s ability to help
Fam form “therapeutic alliance”= all agree on aims of therapy
Therapist tries to improve fam’s beliefs about S
Ensures fam achieves balance between caring for patient/maintaining their own lives
Who proposed a model for working with families dealing with schizophrenia
Frank Burbach (2018)
Phase 1 of Baubach’s model
Sharing basic information
Providing emotional/practical support
Phase 2 of Baubach’s model
Identifying resources (e.g what fam can/can’t offer)
Phase 3 of Baubach’s model
Encourages mutual understanding
Fam can all express their feelings
Phase 4 of Baubach’s model
Identifying unhelpful patterns of interaction
Phase 5 of Baubach’s model
Skills training (e.g learning stress management techniques)
Phase 6 of Baubach’s model
Relapse prevention planning
Phase 7 of Baubach’s model
Maintenance for the future
Strength of CBT for schizophrenia
Evidence for effectiveness:
-Jauhar et al met analysis= improved positive/negative symptoms
-Pontillo et al found reduced auditory hallucinations
-NICE recommends it
So both research/clinical experience supports the benefits of CBT for schizophrenia
What is NICE
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Weakness of CBT for schizophrenia
Techniques/symptoms vary widely from one case to another (Neil Thomas points out)
=Hard to say how effective CBT will be for a particular person with schizophrenia
Strength of family therapy for schizophrenia
Evidence for effectiveness:
-McFarlene reviewed studies, found consistently effective/reduced relapse rates
-NICE recommends
So likely to benefit
How much were relapse rates reduced with family therapy (McFarlene)
50-60%
Strength 2 of fam therapy
Benefits for whole fam
-Lobban/Barrowclogh said important as fam provide most care
-Helps - negative impact of schizophrenia on fam/strengthens ability of fam to support patient
So not just patient who benefits
