Cognitive-behavioral therapy as an adjunct to second-generation antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
This study determined whether adding cognitive-behavioral therapy to treatment for outpatients with schizophrenia would be more effective than the use of second-generation antipsychotics alone. Thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to receive either second-generation antipsychotics alone (N=18) or second-generation antipsychotics plus cognitive-behavioral therapy (N=15).


METHODS
All patients received pharmacotherapy from a single provider and in a predetermined standard manner. Psychopathology ratings were done at baseline, at the end of treatment (12 weeks) and three months after completion of treatment (24 weeks).


RESULTS
Twenty-five (76%) patients completed baseline and 12-week evaluations, and 17 (68%) patients who finished treatment also completed evaluations at 24 weeks. At the end of treatment persons in the second-generation antipsychotics plus cognitive-behavioral therapy group were rated as having less severe delusions than patients in the group receiving second-generation antipsychotics only, and this difference was maintained three months after treatment ended.


CONCLUSIONS
Adding cognitive-behavioral therapy may help with reducing the severity of delusions among patients with schizophrenia.
Pinninti
Narsimha R
NR
Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034, USA. narsimha.pinninti@sbcs.us
Rissmiller
David J
DJ
Steer
Robert A
RA
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents