Cognitive-behavioural therapy v. social activity therapy for people with psychosis and a history of violence: randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Aggression and violence are serious problems in schizophrenia. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for psychosis although there have been no studies to date evaluating the impact of CBT for people with psychosis and a history of violence.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effectiveness of CBT on violence, anger, psychosis and risk outcomes with people who had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and a history of violence.


METHODS
This was a single-blind randomised controlled trial of CBT v. social activity therapy (SAT) with a primary outcome of violence and secondary outcomes of anger, symptoms, functioning and risk. Outcomes were evaluated by masked assessors at 6 and 12 months (trial registration: NRR NO50087441).


RESULTS
Significant benefits were shown for CBT compared with control over the intervention and follow-up period on violence, delusions and risk management.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive-behavioural therapy targeted at psychosis and anger may be an effective treatment for reducing the occurrence of violence and further investigation of its benefits is warranted.
Haddock
Gillian
G
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. gillian.haddock@manchester.ac.uk
Barrowclough
Christine
C
Shaw
Jennifer J
JJ
Dunn
Graham
G
Novaco
Raymond W
RW
Tarrier
Nicholas
N
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000786:Anger; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data