Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Its Role in the Outcome and Recovery from Schizophrenia

Abstract

Cognitive behavioural therapy, better recognised as CBT, was developed as one of the psychotherapeutic techniques by Aaron Beck in the 1960s. CBT has been appreciated for effective treatment of various disorders that include substance use disorder, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, depression and dysthymia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, eating disorders, insomnia, personality disorders, anger and aggression and several other psychosocial as well as psychiatric conditions. Specific to schizophrenia, cognitive behavioural therapy is used for the management of primary symptoms of illness, secondary social impairments and comorbid disorders and for enhancing the effectiveness of medication and vocational support. Early intervention during the illness course is an important predictive factor for the long-term outcome of CBT. Under the broader spectrum of cognitive behavioural therapy, there are various psychotherapies that are used for treatment for persons with schizophrenia along with specific CBT techniques that have been found to be more effective with individuals suffering from schizophrenia. Though psychopharmacotherapy is the mainstay and first-line treatment for schizophrenia, psychotherapy is an essential component of treatment to manage residual symptoms, inculcate social skills training and manage the illness. Within the plethora of nonpharmacological treatment, CBT has been shown to be the most tested and relatively successful intervention in the management for schizophrenia. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.