Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Schizophrenia

2754 Words6 Pages

Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric disorder, or cluster of disorders, characterised by psychotic symptoms that alter a person’s perception, thoughts, affect and behaviour (NICE, 2009). Tai and Turkington (2009) define Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) as an evidence-based talking therapy that attempts cognitive and behavioural change based on an individualised formulation of a client’s personal history, problems and world views. CBT as a treatment for schizophrenia can be understood within a wider framework of CBT as applied to a range of mental disorders such as anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression (Tai and Turkington, 2009). CBT was built on behavioural principles that emphasised clear relationships between cognition, physiology and emotion (Beck, 1952). This essay will analyse CBT as a therapy for individual suffering from schizophrenia. It will discuss briefly the historical background and the development of CBT, the aims and principles, the evidence base of the strengths and weaknesses of the therapy. It will discuss as well the implication to mental health nursing practice. The focus of this essay is on intervention and psychosocial in nature which will be brought together in the conclusion. According to Gamble and Brennan (2000), the effectiveness of medication for schizophrenia to relieve patients from psychotic symptoms is limited. Although patients have adequate medication, some received little or no benefit from it and almost half of them still experience psychotic symptoms. They are also more likely to suffer relapse (Gamble and Brennan, 2000). Furthermore, Valmaggia, et al. (2005) found that 50% of patients who fully adhere to anti-psychotic medication regimes still have ongoing positi... ... middle of paper ... ...zophrenia: 12-month follow-up. Br J Psychiatry; 174:500–504 Turkington, D, Kingdon, D, & Rathod, S (2006), 'Outcomes of an effectiveness trial of cognitive-behavioural intervention by mental health nurses in schizophrenia', British Journal of Psychiatry, 11, 1, pp. 36-40 Turkington D, Dudley R, Warman DM, and Beck AT (2006) Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Schizophrenia: A Review Focus, Spring 2006; 4: 223 - 233. Valmaggia LR, van der Gaag M, Tarrier N, Pijnenborg M, Slooff CJ. (2005) Cognitive–behavioural therapy for refractory psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia resistant to atypical antipsychotic medication The British Journal of Psychiatry (2005) 186: 324-330 Wykes T, Steel C, Everitt B and Tarrier N (2008) Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Schizophrenia: Effect Sizes, Clinical Models, and Methodological Rigor Schizophrenia Bulletin 34(3): 523-537

More about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Schizophrenia

Open Document