Schizophrenia - Psychological Treatments Flashcards
What is cognitive behavioural therapy?
A method for treating mental disorders based on both cognitive & behavioural techniques
How does CBT help schizophrenic patients?
Can help them make sense of their irrational cognitions (e.g. delusions & hallucinations) impact their feelings & behaviour -> helps the person understand where the symptoms come from -> helps in the long run
Helps with normalisation
Challenges delusions
What is normalisation in CBT to help treat SZ?
Helping schizophrenic patients by teaching them that the auditory hallucinations they hear is an extension of the ordinary experience of thinking in words
What is family therapy?
Psychological therapy carried out with some/all members of the family -> aims to improve communications in the family (reduces stress)
How does Pharoah et al suggest family therapy works?
Reduces negative emotions
Improves the families’ ability to help
How does family therapy reduce negative emotions?
Aims to reduce the levels of expressed emotions -> reduces stress so it reduces the likelihood of relapse
How does family therapy improve the families’ ability to help?
Family forms therapeutic alliance (all agree of aims of theray)
Improves families beliefs & behaviour about SZ
Achieve balance between caring for SZ individual & maintaining their own lives
What is Burbach’s model of practice?
1- sharing basic info, providing emotional & practical support
2- identifying the resources different family members can/cannot provide
3- encourage mutual understanding (creates safe space to express feelings)
4- identifying unhelpful patterns of interaction
5- skills training e.g. learning stress management techniques
6- relapse prevention
7- maintenance for the future
What is a strength of CBT to treat SZ?
Jauhar et al -> reviewed 34 studies using CBT with SZ & concluded clear evidence of for small but significant effects on + & - symptoms
Pontillo et al -> found reductions in frequency & severity of auditory hallucinations
NICE recommend it
(Research & clinical evidence)
What is a limitation of CBT to treat SZ?
CBT techniques & SZ symptoms vary widely person to person
Thomas -> different studies use different CBT techniques with ppl with different combos of + & - symptoms
Difficult to say how effective it is for a particular individual
Can CBT cure individuals?
May improve quality of life but not cure them
Largely a bio condition -> expect that psychological therapy benefits quality of life
However many studies report significant reductions in symptoms
Suggest it does more than enhance coping
EVALUATION: What is a strength of family therapies to treat SZ?
Evidence of effectiveness -> Mcfarlane: reviewed studies & concluded that family therapy one of most consistently effective treatments
NICE recommends it for everyone with a diagnosis
Likley to benefit people with both early & ‘full blown’ SZ
EVALUATION: What is another strength of family therapy as a treatment of SZ?
Benefits the whole family -> Lobban & Barrowclough: strengthening the functioning of the whole family it lessens the negative impact of SZ on other family members & strengthens ability of family to support the person with SZ
Has wider benefits that obvious positive impact of the patient
EVALUATION: How can family therapy improve the economy?
It has huge economic benefits -> the state doesnt need to pay so much but also has benefits for the person with SZ & their families
Can be argued if it has £££ or therapeutic benefit
