Cognitive Behaviour Therapy of Schizophrenia

Cognitive behavioural techniques used in schi.zopbrenia have generally been developed pragmatically in clinical settings.Despite the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in acute schizophrenia and in preventing relapse, many patients continue to have persistent positive and negative symptoms.Even drugs such as clozapine for resistant symptoms only appear effective in up to a third of those for whom they are indicated.Side-effects also present major problems.Poor compliance occurs in up to 75% with first episode schizophrenia (Kissling, 1992)and up to 50% of patients dischargedfrom hospital fail to take even 75% of medication prescribed (Buchanan, 1992).Controlled studies have been unable to demonstrate the efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy in schizophrenia.