CBT for Psychosis : An Introduction

Many readers of this book will recall a time when the predominant view within psychiatry was that talking therapies were not recommended for people diagnosed with schizophrenia. The past 10 years have seen a rapid expansion of an evidence base that has overturned this traditional view. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for schizophrenia is now recommended as part of routine clinical practice within a number of countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. One consequence of this rapid rate of change is the need for widespread dissemination of this psychological intervention. Attempts have been made to meet this need through the publication of a number of treatment manuals, as well as an increase in the availability of training events. The evidence base of CBT for schizophrenia was first developed through a generic intervention aimed at the relatively stable ‘medication-resistant’ group. However, as those readers who are trained clinicians will be aware, a diagnosis of schizophrenia is associated with a wide range of presentations. Consequently there have been recent developments within distinct protocols aimed at specific presentations and phases of the disorder. The aim of this book is to bring together these recently developed evidencebased protocols. CBT for Psychosis: An Introduction