S - Psychological Treatments For Schizophrenia

Question 1

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) in schizophrenia

Answer 1

• Aims to identify and challenge irrational thinking and beliefs, including the delusions and hallucinations of schizophrenia
• It helps by showing patients how their delusions and hallucinations affect their feelings and behaviour.

Question 2

Family therapy in schizophrenia

Answer 2

• Aims to improve family communication and reduce stress of living as a family.
• This reduces the expressed emotion within the family which decreases the likelihood of a relapse and makes whiles also increasing the chances of people complying with medication.

Question 3

What does a token economy do in terms of schizophrenia?

Answer 3

• It is designed to make behaviour more manageable within a hospital setting
• This does not cure schizophrenia but improves the person’s quality of life

Question 4

Evaluation of CBT

Answer 4

• It does not produce the unpleasant side effects of drug therapy but drug therapy is cheaper
• CBT is a lengthy treatment which requires engagement, people with schizophrenia may not have the capability to be engaged due to both positive and negative symptoms so, dropping out of CBT is common

Question 5

Evidence supporting family therapy

Answer 5

• Leff reviewed the aftercare of patients with Schizophrenia. Of those with standard outpatient care, 50% had relapsed within nine months. Compared to only 8% who received family therapy.
• However, after two years, this had risen to 50% with family therapy and 75% with standard outpatient care.

Question 6

Negative evaluation of family therapy

Answer 6

It focuses on improving the symptoms however, it is not a cure to schizophrenia. Although it makes the symptoms more manageable, they still remain