Psychological Treatments for SZ

Question 1

Give intro to CBT

Answer 1

CBT is commonly used to treat patients w sz.

the NHS states that it usually takes place be 5-20 sessions can be conducted in groups/individually

based around assumption that sz have irrational and unrealistic thought processes.

CBT attempt challenge these thought processes

Question 2

What is the aim of CBT

Answer 2

to help patients identify irrational/delusional thoughts and change them into more rational ones via disputing making them less threatening

Question 3

What happens once irrational thoughts have been identified?

Answer 3

for eg a paranoid delusion that 👽 were trying to abduct them,

the psychiatrist would challenge the patient’s irrational thoughts in order to encourage patients to come up with a more plausible/less threatening explanation:

Question 4

How does Therapist use Empirical Disputing

Answer 4

therapist would ask the patient where is the evidence of their delusion/hallucination?

‘Where is the evidence that aliens exist? Has anybody else seen these aliens? Do you have a photograph of them?’

Question 5

How does empirical disputing help patients?

Answer 5

• helps patients to understand the delusions/hallucinations are not real and the therapist could explain that it is just a symptom of their sz
• Offering more plausible explanations for these symptoms can reduce anxiety/distress and helps the patient realise their beliefs (e.g. delusions) are not based in reality and that their thoughts are less threatening.

Question 6

How can Positive Self Talk be used

Answer 6

eg if Individual hears negative voices they can say + statements that challenge auditory hallucinations 🔊

Question 7

What is meant by self distraction strategies

Answer 7

eg listening to music 👂🎶 to drown out voices when they occur

Question 8

Give RTS for CBT

Answer 8

P - Jauhar

E - reviewed the results of 34 studies of CBT as a treatment for sz

E - CBT had sig but small effect on both +/- symptoms

demonstrating that CBT is fairly effective in treating sz by challenging patients irrational 💭 it can reduce depression

> however it is worth noting out of 34 studies CBT only had small impact on sz symp

L - therefore placing doubt on effectiveness of CBT as treatment for sz

Question 9

Give a weakness of CBT

Answer 9

P - reqs motivation and commitment

E - for attending sessions something I suffering from - symp lack (avolition)

E- also reqs attention from patients but someone w delusions + symp may have lack of awareness/ inaccurate perception of reality

L - in some cases CBT only effective when combined w antipsychotics

💊 motivate patient to attend sessions and ⬆️ patient awareness

CBT alone may not be effective treatment for all cases

Question 10

Give a strength into CBT

Answer 10

P - avoids the chemical dependence

E - CBT encourages individuals to identify and challenge their irrational/delusional thoughts independently, giving them control over their own behaviour.

E - This is unlike 💊therapy, which imposes the chemical straitjacket as the drug controls activity of neurotransmitters in the brain such as dopamine to reduce the symptoms of sz which could cause dependence.

L - Due to this, some may prefer CBT as a more appropriate treatment for schizophrenia.

Question 11

Give intro to Family Therapy

Answer 11

based on idea that as family dysfunction can play a role in the development of sz

altering rs and communication patterns within dysfunctional families shud help sz to recover

also works by resucing expressed emotion and stress levels within family which may contribute to patients risk of relapse

Question 12

What is the aim of Family Therapy

Answer 12

to reduce levels of expressed emotion /stress by

1) Improving families’ beliefs about and behaviour towards

2) Reducing the stress of caring for a relative with schizophrenia

3) Decreasing feelings of guilt and anger in family members

4) Helping family members achieve a balance between caring for the individual with schizophrenia and maintaining their own lives

Question 13

How long to Therapists meet regularly w patients and family members for?

Answer 13

• 9 months - 1 year
• encouraged to be open and talk abt patients symptoms bh and progress

Question 14

Give RTS for Family Therapy

Answer 14

P - Leff

E - compared family therapy w routine outpatient care for sz’s and found the first 9 months of treatment 50% of those recieving routine care relapsed compared w 8% of those recieving

L - suggesting FT is effective is an effective treatment

Question 15

Give a Limitation of FT

Answer 15

P - does not get to root cause (aetiology) of sz

E - works by helping reduce stress of living w sz in a family for both patient and family members

E - does not eliminate symptoms completely

L - this ? appropriateness and effectiveness of therapy as when therapy stops patients cud relapse which is what Hogarty found in a follow up study of patients who received family therapy

Question 16

What emphasis is placed on FT

Answer 16

P - openess

E - sometimes be an issue as it may cause / reopen family tensions

E - some family members also reluctant to talk or even admit their problems

L - lowering effectiveness of FT as treatment of sz

Question 17

What Alternative Therapy can be used

Answer 17

P - art therapy 🖼️

E - less well known and less likely to be available to patients

E - takes place w specially trained art teacher who has worked patients w sz and allows to interpret their emotions and feelings w out words in safe env 🌳

L - also acts as healthy form of distraction from various symptoms such as disturbing thoughts

more appropriate treatment then famikt therapy