Psychological therapies for schizophrenia

Cognitive behaviour therapy

Commonly used to treat patients with schz
It usually takes place for 5-20 sessions, in groups or individually
The aim in general involves helping patients identify irrational thoughts and trying to change them
This may involve argument or a discussion of how likely the patient's belief are to be true
Can make patients better able to cope with symptoms of schz
How CBT helps
Patients can be helped to make sense of their delusions and hallucinations and how they impact on their feelings and beh
Offering psychological explanations for the existence of hallucinations and delusions can help reduce anxiety
Delusions can also be challenged so that a patient can come to learn that their beliefs are not based on reality

Family therapy

Takes place with families rather than individual patients, aiming to improve the quality of communication and interaction between family members
There is a range of approaches to the family therapy
Most family therapists are concerned with reducing stress within the family that might contribute to a patient's risk of relapse
In particular, family therapy aims to reduce levels of EE
How FT helps
Forming therapeutic alliance with all family members
Reducing the stress of caring for a relative with schz
Improving…

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