“What is the best psychological treatment for schizophrenia?”
I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. What is the best psychological treatment for schizophrenia?
6 Answers
The first step is to make sure you're working with a psychiatrist who is prescribing an effective medication to manage your symptoms. It's a also key to finding a therapist who's working with you to deal with "breakthrough" symptoms. There are many strategies which your therapist will review with you--one size does not fit all, so it's hard to know ahead of time which will be the best fit for you.
2 psychotherapies have shown strong evidence to benefit individuals with schizophrenia: 1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis (CBTp) and 2. Individual Resiliency Training (IRT)
Even though medication is the first line of defense with treating schizophrenia, cognitive behavior therapy in the short term can help subside some of the extreme thought patterns. That being said, cognitive trauma realignment is the focus that I use when assisting individuals with schizophrenia.
Medication and work with a DBT therapist.
Hi, Thank you for your question. There are many different types of therapies to treat schizophrenia.
*Cognitive Behavior Therapy* (CBT) can help change thinking and behavior. A therapist will show you ways to deal with voices and hallucinations <https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/what-are-hallucinations>. With a combination of CBT sessions and medication, the client can eventually tell what triggers their psychotic episodes (times when hallucinations or delusions <https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/delusional-disorder> flare-up) and how to reduce or stop them. CBT can help you feel less distressed about your psychotic experiences, feel less depressed and anxious, reduce alcohol and drug use, deal with suicidal thoughts, and overcome feelings of hopelessness.
*Cognitive Enhancement Therapy *(CET) is also called cognitive remediation. It teaches people how to better recognize social cues or triggers, and improve their attention, memory, and ability to organize their thoughts. It combines computer-based brain training
<https://www.webmd.com/news/breaking-news/brain-training/brain-training-promise> and group sessions.
*Psychoeducation* helps people with schizophrenia (and their partner or family) understand the illness. Psychoeducation programs explain symptoms, treatment options, recovery, and services that can help. You can have psychoeducation individually or in groups. It can include written information, videos, websites, meetings, or discussions with your case manager or psychiatrist. Your family can help you understand your diagnosis and support you in your treatment. Family psychoeducation programs help the person with schizophrenia and their family communicate better and solve problems. Family psychoeducation is also good for family members. It can be very upsetting to see someone you love become unwell with schizophrenia.
*Medications* include newer antipsychotic drugs which are also called second-generation or atypical antipsychotics. They’re newer than first-generation drugs. They generally cause fewer side effects, such as repetitive or involuntary movements like eye blinking, than older
antipsychotics. Second-generation antipsychotics work about equally as well as older drugs. The one exception is clozapine, which is effective against schizophrenia but doesn’t respond to other treatments.
*Electroconvulsive Therapy* (ECT) which attaches electrodes to the person's scalp. While they’re under general anesthesia, doctors send a small electric shock to the brain. A course of ECT therapy usually involves 2-3 treatments per week for several weeks. Each shock treatment causes a controlled seizure. A series of treatments over time leads to improvement in mood and thinking. Scientists don’t fully understand exactly how ECT and the controlled seizures it causes help, although some researchers think that ECT-induced seizures may affect the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. It can help when medications no longer work or if severe depression or catatonia makes treating the illness difficult. Living With Schizophrenia.
Most people with this condition do get better with treatment and support. Exercise, eat healthy foods, manage your stress, and stay connected with your loved ones. Staying mentally and physically strong can help you feel more in charge of your illness and your life. People with schizophrenia do best if they have:
- medication and psychological treatment together – not just one or the other
- medications to manage depression or anxiety if needed
- education about their illness (individual psychoeducation)
- a supportive partner, family member, or friends involved in their care
- access to a 24-hour crisis support
- a mental health professional who takes care of planning and
coordinating their individual care (case management)
- support to find and keep a job or continuing education
- somewhere safe and affordable to live
- support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
*Cognitive Behavior Therapy* (CBT) can help change thinking and behavior. A therapist will show you ways to deal with voices and hallucinations <https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/what-are-hallucinations>. With a combination of CBT sessions and medication, the client can eventually tell what triggers their psychotic episodes (times when hallucinations or delusions <https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/delusional-disorder> flare-up) and how to reduce or stop them. CBT can help you feel less distressed about your psychotic experiences, feel less depressed and anxious, reduce alcohol and drug use, deal with suicidal thoughts, and overcome feelings of hopelessness.
*Cognitive Enhancement Therapy *(CET) is also called cognitive remediation. It teaches people how to better recognize social cues or triggers, and improve their attention, memory, and ability to organize their thoughts. It combines computer-based brain training
<https://www.webmd.com/news/breaking-news/brain-training/brain-training-promise> and group sessions.
*Psychoeducation* helps people with schizophrenia (and their partner or family) understand the illness. Psychoeducation programs explain symptoms, treatment options, recovery, and services that can help. You can have psychoeducation individually or in groups. It can include written information, videos, websites, meetings, or discussions with your case manager or psychiatrist. Your family can help you understand your diagnosis and support you in your treatment. Family psychoeducation programs help the person with schizophrenia and their family communicate better and solve problems. Family psychoeducation is also good for family members. It can be very upsetting to see someone you love become unwell with schizophrenia.
*Medications* include newer antipsychotic drugs which are also called second-generation or atypical antipsychotics. They’re newer than first-generation drugs. They generally cause fewer side effects, such as repetitive or involuntary movements like eye blinking, than older
antipsychotics. Second-generation antipsychotics work about equally as well as older drugs. The one exception is clozapine, which is effective against schizophrenia but doesn’t respond to other treatments.
*Electroconvulsive Therapy* (ECT) which attaches electrodes to the person's scalp. While they’re under general anesthesia, doctors send a small electric shock to the brain. A course of ECT therapy usually involves 2-3 treatments per week for several weeks. Each shock treatment causes a controlled seizure. A series of treatments over time leads to improvement in mood and thinking. Scientists don’t fully understand exactly how ECT and the controlled seizures it causes help, although some researchers think that ECT-induced seizures may affect the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. It can help when medications no longer work or if severe depression or catatonia makes treating the illness difficult. Living With Schizophrenia.
Most people with this condition do get better with treatment and support. Exercise, eat healthy foods, manage your stress, and stay connected with your loved ones. Staying mentally and physically strong can help you feel more in charge of your illness and your life. People with schizophrenia do best if they have:
- medication and psychological treatment together – not just one or the other
- medications to manage depression or anxiety if needed
- education about their illness (individual psychoeducation)
- a supportive partner, family member, or friends involved in their care
- access to a 24-hour crisis support
- a mental health professional who takes care of planning and
coordinating their individual care (case management)
- support to find and keep a job or continuing education
- somewhere safe and affordable to live
- support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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and
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and
https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-therapy
