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What type of therapy is best for schizophrenia?

I am a 24 year old male. I want to know what type of therapy is best for schizophrenia?

7 Answers

PsychologistPsychologist
Social skills training can be very helpful if medications allow you to not be terrified of social contact.
Thank you for your question. Professionally speaking, a combination of antipsychotic medication and mental health counseling has proven to be most effective when treating schizophrenia or schizotypical disorders. Please keep in mind that there are no cookie-cutter approaches to treatment. The exact methods and techniques for therapy can vary from client to client. I hope this helps.
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 about 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 the 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 that 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 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 continue education
- somewhere safe and affordable to live
- support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

I hope this information has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD
Hello,

Thank you so much for reaching out, I feel that medication management is the best place to start with treatment.

Sara Cole, MS, LPC, CAC III

Hello and thank you for your question,

There are a few different types of therapy that are good for schizophrenia. It really depends on what the symptoms are. Different symptoms are treated using different interventions. A psychological assessment is best to determine the most effective type of treatment.

Thank you,

Patricia Harris | MA, MS, LPC
in my experience, the best therapy for someone suffering from schizophrenia is one focused on 1) developing an understanding of the nature of the disorder, especially as it manifests in the client; 2) acceptance of self, the need for pharmacotherapy, and the unpleasant side effects; 3) developing effective coping skills, and 4) and finding some meaningful purpose in life. A supportive therapeutic relationship can often be the only one they have and can make big difference in how the disorder affects them.
I hope this is helpful.

Check this link out for some insight into your question:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4159061/