Schizophrenia- CBTp Flashcards
What is CBT?
The assumption that patients often have irrational thoughts and beliefs about themselves and about the world, and these can lead to abnormality. Consequently changing the patients beliefs by challenging them and demonstarting they are wrong in one goal of CBTp
How is CBTp used for SZ
1) Identify the dysfunctional thinking
2) Dispute/ challenge the irrational beliefs
3) Set homework- reality testing and practising skills
What does CBTp focus on?
Focuses on the positive symptoms (hallucinations and delusions) rather than the negative symptoms (such as lack of emotion, lack of motivation, speaking very little)
How are dysfunctional thoughts challenged?
1) Normalisation
2) Critical collaborative analysis
3) Developing alternative explanations
4) Coping strategies
What is normalisation?
Helps the patient realise it is normal to have negative thoughts in certain situations. Therefore there is no need to feel stressed or ashamed about them
What is critical collaborative analysis?
Carrying on a logical discussion till the patient begins to see where their ideas are going wrong and why they developed. Work out ways to recognise negative thoughts and test faulty beliefs when they arise and then challenge and re-think them
What is developing alternative explanations?
Helping the patient to find logical reasons for the things which trouble them. Let the patient develop their own alternative to their previous maladaptive behaviour by looking at coping strategies and alternative explanations
What is coping strategies?
To handle symptoms by establishing the context of patients delusions and hallucinations (type and triggers) and then working together to improve the patients existing coping strategies
Effectiveness of CBTp for treating SZ
Addington and Addington (2005): Claim that CBT is of little use in the early stages of an acute schizophrenic episode, but perhaps more useful when the patient is more calm and beginning to worry about how life will be after they recover.
It doesn’t cure schizophrenia but it helps people get over it and cope their their condition
Appropriateness of CBTp for treating SZ
Hampshire, by Kingdon and Kirschen (2006): Found that CBT is not suitable for all patients, especially those who are too thought disorientated or agitated, who refuse medication, or who are too paranoid to form trusting alliances with practitioners
High drop-out rate: appropriateness is reduced because many patients with SZ drop out of therapy; can be linked to the fact that patients need to be highly motivated because treatment requires a certain amount of effort and commitment from the patient
