Cognitive behavioral therapy for schizophrenia: An overview of treatment Original Research Article

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been demonstrated to be a useful adjunct to medication and other standard treatments for schizophrenia patients. Although the cognitive approach to schizophrenia has become popular in the United Kingdom, it has received relatively little attention in the United States. The present paper serves as on overview of CBT for schizophrenia, with an emphasis on delusions. We discuss the purpose and enumerate the challenges of conducting CBT with schizophrenia patients, providing specific case examples and strategies — such as normalizing, collaboration, behavioral experiments, understanding the meaning of patientsʹ delusions, role-plays, and imagery exercises — for handling such challenges. It is concluded that CBT can lead to decreased distress associated with patientsʹ symptoms.