Treatment of schizophrenia: Cognitive behaviour therapy

Question 1

Coping strategy enhancement (CSE)

Answer 1

is a type of CBT designed to treat the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia like delusions and hallucinations.

Question 2

Based of research of Tarrier (1987)

Answer 2

who noticed that schizophrenic patients could identify triggers for their psychotic episodes and also their own coping strategies to deal with their symptoms.

Question 3

Cognitive strategies

Answer 3

such as distraction where they try to think about something else other than their delusions or hallucinations so they stop thinking about them. Positive self talk enables them to see themselves in a good light despite the negative voices in their head.

Question 4

Behavioural strategies

Answer 4

such as turning up the TV to drown out auditory hallucinations or relaxation training to reduce the stress that accompanies delusions.

Question 5

Evaluation strength: Tarrier et al (1993)

Answer 5

found a significant reduction in positive symptoms in comparison to a no treatment group which suggests that is effective at reducing things like hallucinations and delusions.

Question 6

Evaluation weakness: Methodological issues

Answer 6

for example, this study can be criticised as half the patients who signed up to do the study either dropped out or refused to take part therefore we cannot say for sure whether they would have benefitted also.

Question 7

Evaluation weakness: inappropriate control treatments

Answer 7

CBT is compared to other therapies and is said to be a better treatment. However, is it just because these other therapies are not very good?