Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy for schizophrenia: a review of recent empirical studies

A set of cognitive behavioral psychotherapies (CBT) has been developed for schizophrenia. These interventions have been used for the treatment of both recent onset patients and those with treatment-refractory symptoms. This article reviews clinical trials of CBT for schizophrenia since 1990. The CBT interventions appear to be beneficial in reducing overall symptom levels, especially the severity of delusions. The relative efficacy of CBT is more evident when CBT is compared with routine care than when it is compared with other therapies matched for therapist attention. Further studies are needed to objectively determine the active ingredients of CBT and to better identify the interactions of CBT with concurrent psychosocial and medication treatments. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.