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Cognitive & Behavioral Treatment of Schizophrenia

Approximately one percent of the people in the United States have schizophrenia, a mental condition that inhibits normal, daily functioning, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). There is no cure for schizophrenia; however, symptoms may be managed for some patients through anti-psychotic medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy emphasizes new ways to think about and behave in the world.

  1. Schizophrenia

    • Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder. The exact causes of schizophrenia are not entirely clear, though a family history of mental illness, environmental factors and an imbalance of chemicals in the brain may contribute to the disease. Schizophrenia is characterized by positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. Positive symptoms are those associated with psychosis, or a loss of contact with reality. Hallucinations, such as hearing voices and seeing things that aren't there, and delusions, or false, unreasonable or untrue beliefs, are positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Other positive symptoms include movement disorders, and disorganized thoughts and speech. Negative symptoms refer to problems with normal functioning. Schizophrenics may show no emotion, have inappropriate displays of emotion or be unable to communicate. People with schizophrenia may also have memory problems, trouble paying attention and concentrating, and trouble using new information to solve problems or make decisions, which are cognitive symptoms.

    CBT

    • Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a form of psychotherapy used to treat a variety of mental disorders, including schizophrenia, depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. According to the NIMH, cognitive-behavioral therapy "focuses on thinking and behavior." CBT is not intended to cure schizophrenia, but rather to help patients learn new ways to cope with their illness, according to PsychologyInfo. The behavioral component of CBT helps patients learn social and communication skills.

    Features

    • In cognitive-behavioral therapy, those with schizophrenia may learn how to ignore the voices in their heads and how to assess the reality of what they perceive. According to research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 2006, CBT combined with an anti-psychotic medication regimen is the "appropriate standard of care" for those with schizophrenia.

    Medication

    • Symptoms of schizophrenia may be managed in part by anti-psychotic and atypical anti-psychotic medications. Anti-psychotic medications include Thorazine and Haldol. Examples of atypical anti-psychotics are Risperdal, Zyprexa and Seroquel. Over time, anti-psychotics may cause undesirable side effects, including movement disorders like tardive dyskinesia. Atypical anti-psychotic medications can cause side effects such as changes in metabolism and weight gain.

    Considerations

    • Anti-psychotic medications may help control symptoms of schizophrenia so they do not interfere with therapy sessions. According to the NIMH, people with schizophrenia who regularly participate in a form of psychosocial treatment, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, are more likely to stick to their medication regimens, less likely to experience a relapse of symptoms, and less likely to require hospitalization for their schizophrenia.

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