Coping with Psychosis: Using CBT to Manage Persistent Symptoms
Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Jennifer
Gottlieb, Ph.D., NARSAD YI, Dartmouth Medical School Jennifer
Gottlieb, Ph.D.  From The Quarterly, Fall 2011  Upwards of half
of people taking antipsychotic medications continue to have some
symptoms of psychosis. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a
non-pharmaceutical intervention that helps people develop skills
for coping with persistent delusions and hallucinations as well
as some of the social problems attendant on schizophrenia. A
highly structured, usually short- term treatment, CBT is based
on collaborative interaction between patient and therapist. A
key aspect of this therapy is that patients play an active role
in their treatment with the therapist as a kind of coach.  The
first step is for the patient to examine the coping strategies
he or she has been using and how effective they are. A list of
other possible strategies is provided and patient and therapist
brainstorm about