A randomized comparison of group cognitive-behavioural therapy and group psychoeducation in patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
Although the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in schizophrenia has been established in a number of studies, no information is available on the differential efficacy of CBT in comparison with patient psychoeducation (PE).


METHODS
Eighty-eight in-patients with schizophrenia were randomized to receive a therapy envelope of 8 weeks including either 16 sessions group CBT or eight [correction] sessions group PE treatment. Assessments took place at baseline, post-treatment and 6 month follow-up.


RESULTS
Patients, who received CBT were significantly less rehospitalized than patients in the PE group during the follow-up period. On a descriptive level, CBT resulted in lower relapse rates and higher compliance ratings at post-treatment and at follow-up than PE. Both forms of therapy led to significant psychopathological improvement at post-treatment and at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The brief group CBT intervention showed some superiority to the PE programme, which could be of considerable clinical and economical importance.
Bechdolf
A
A
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. andreas.bechdolf@medizin.uni-koeln.de
Knost
B
B
Kuntermann
C
C
Schiller
S
S
Klosterkötter
J
J
Hambrecht
M
M
Pukrop
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome