Psychological Treatments For Schizophrenia

Question 1

CBT: intro to

Answer 1

• distorted beliefs negatively influence feelings and behaviour. Delusions result from faulty interpretations of events.
• 5-20 sessions one on one or group
• patients are encouraged to evaluate content of their delusions/voices to test validity of
  beliefs, THEN change them.
• Patients helped to make sense of how their delusions/hallucinations impact on their feelings and behaviour.
• Distorted thinking and maladaptive beliefs are identified with the help of the therapists, looking for alternative explanations and coping strategies.

Question 2

CBT: assessment

Answer 2

Patient expresses their thoughts/goals using distress as motivation for change.

Question 3

CBT: Engagement

Answer 3

The therapist empathised with patient’s perspective and stress.
Ellis’ ABCD model:
Activating event (voices)
Beliefs (voices are mean and hostile)
Consequence emotional. (sorrow, depression) are discussed.
Disputed (irrational beliefs are disputed)

Question 4

CBT: normalisation

Answer 4

Patients are assured that many people have hallucinations/delusions when they are stressed, this reduces patients anxiety around symptoms and helps strengthen belief in recovery.

Question 5

CBT: CCA (critical collaborative analysis)

Answer 5

The therapist uses gentle questioning to challenge the patients beliefs, in an atmosphere of trust and non-judgemental acceptance.

Question 6

CBT: developing alternative explanations

Answer 6

the patient develops their own alternative explanations for previously unhealthy assumptions, with the support of the therapist.

Question 7

AENCD

Answer 7

Always (assessment)
Eat (engagement)
New (normalisation)
cucumber (critical collaborative analysis)
Daily (developing alternative explanations
)

Question 8

Turkington et al (2004) case example

Answer 8

• treated a paranoid client who believed the Mafia were plotting to kill him

The therapist acknowledged the client’s anxiety, and explained that there were other, less frightening possibilities and gently challenged the client’s evidence for his belief in the Mafia explanation.

Question 9

+ AO3 strengths for CBT

Question 10

• AO3 weaknesses for CBT

Question 11

Family therapy introduction

Answer 11

• aims to eliminate or at least reduce destructive emotions such as anger, guilt, shame which can affect family dynamic and the schizophrenia sufferer.
• reduce levels of expressed emotion which reduces risk of relapse.

Question 12

How does family therapy work?

Answer 12

• reduces expressed emotions of anger and guilt by family members.
• enables everyone to have a voice and the best way to help an ex schizophrenic to reduce family tension.
• enhances relatives ability to support and problem solve, as well as understanding the illness better.

Question 13

Burbach’s model of family therapy

Answer 13

Phases 1 and 2: share information and identify resources family can offer.
Phases 3 and 4: learn mutual understanding, and look at unhelpful patterns of interaction
Phases 5, 6 and 7: skills training (e.g. stress management techniques), relapse prevention and maintenance

Question 14

+ AO3 strengths

Question 15

• AO3 weaknesses

Answer 15

• If a patient has a good standard of care, in a family with relatively low expressed emotions, then family therapy may give no further advantages.