Cognitive-behavioural therapy for psychosis: a status report.
OBJECTIVE
To review the nature of cognitive-behavioural interventions for psychosis and to evaluate evidence of their effectiveness.


METHODS
Electronic (Medline and Psychinfo) and bibliography-based searches were carried out to locate descriptions and evaluations of cognitive-behavioural interventions for psychosis.


RESULTS
Various cognitive-behavioural interventions have been used for reducing psychosis. These have usually been applied to auditory hallucinations and/or delusions in otherwise treatment-resistant patients. Most evaluations comprise case studies or simple pre-post designs. Controlled trial evaluations are few, and although the results are promising, methodological problems limit the conclusions that can be drawn concerning the clinical utility of such approaches.


CONCLUSIONS
More and better controlled trial evaluations of cognitive-behavioural interventions are needed in this area. If further research supports the efficacy of these techniques, issues related to clinical effectiveness, mediators of treatment effects, risks, and cost-effectiveness will also need to be addressed.
Norman
R M
RM
Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London. rnorman@julian.uwo.ca
Townsend
L A
LA
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome