schizophrenia: psychological therapies ao3

Question 1

Evidence for effectiveness

Answer 1

Glowacki et al., (2016)
• Meta-analysis of of 7 high quality studies conducted between 1999 and 2003 on the effectiveness of TES for people with chronic mental health issues.
• In a hospital setting
• All studies showed a reduction in negative symptoms and a decline in the frequency of unwanted behaviours
• This supports the value of token economies.

Question 2

Counterpoint to research support

Answer 2

Seven studies is quite a small evidence base to support the effectiveness of the technique.
• Small numbers of studies → file drawer problem
• Bias towards positive published findings → undesirable results have been filed away
This means that there is a serious question over the evidence for the effectiveness of token economies.

Question 3

Weakness - alternative psych therapies are under researched

Answer 3

P: alternative psych therapies are under researched
E: For example, NICE recommends art therapy, if a qualified art therapist is available who has experience working w schiz patients
E: however these therapies aren’t well researched so it’s unclear how effective they are
L: this questions whether or not under researched therapies should be made available to patients

Question 4

Care not cure perhaps alt app needed

Answer 4

P: one limitation is that psych therapies may help care for patient but not cure them perhaps an alt approach needed
E: CBT helps patients make sense of their symptoms. Family therapy helps reduce stress of living w schizophrenia and token economies help patients learn socially acceptable beh
E: these are all things worth doing but shouldn’t be confused w curing schiz
L: biological therapies also don’t cure schiz but do reduce severity of symptoms and thus may be more desirable