Psychological Treatments for Sz Flashcards
Outline CBT as a way to treat Sz(6 marks)
CBT aims to help patients identify and challenge irrational thoughts and delusions to create more rational and positive ones. Once the thoughts have been identified such as paranoid delusions, the psychiatrist would challenge these irrational thoughts using disputing help gain a less threatening explanation. Empirical Disputing is asking the patient where the evidence is for their delusion. Disputing helps patients make sense of their delusions and hallucinations. Giving explanations can reduce anxiety and help patient realise the beliefs are not based in reality so are less threatening. CBT also uses positive self talk where if the patient hears negative voices they can say positive statements that challenge the hallucinations. Also, Self distraction strategies help the client not focus on their delusions and hallucinations by distracting themselves such as listening to music to down out auditory hallucinations.
Outline family therapy as a way to treat Sz (6 marks)
Family therapy aims to alter relationship and communication patterns in the dysfunctional families. It helps to reduce stress levels such as expressed emotion in the family, reducing relapse. Therapists meet with patients and family members, about 9 months, are encouraged to be open and talk about the patient’s symptoms, and progress. The aim is to reduce levels of expressed emotions by: improving family’s beliefs and behaviour towards Sz, reducing stress of caring for a relative with Sz, decreasing feelings of guilt and anger in family members, helping family members achieve a balance between the care they give to the patient and maintaining their own lives.
