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Published on: April 24, 2014
Effectiveness of a brief cognitive-behavioural therapy intervention in the treatment of schizophrenia
Douglas Turkington1, David Kingdon, Trevor Turner
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. douglas.turkington@ncl.ac.uk
Background:
Little evidence exists to indicate whether community psychiatric nurses can achieve the results reported by expert cognitive-behavioural therapists in patients with schizophrenia.
Aims:
To assess the effectiveness and safety of a brief cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention in a representative community sample of patients with schizophrenia in secondary care settings.
Method:
A pragmatic randomised trial was performed involving 422 patients and carers to compare a brief CBT intervention against treatment as usual.
Results:
Patients who received CBT (n=257) improved in overall symptomatology (P=0.015; number needed to treat [NNT]=13), insight (P<0.001; NNT=10) and depression (P=0.003; NNT=9) compared with the control group (n=165). Insight was clinically significantly improved (risk ratio=1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.31). There was no increase in suicidal ideation.
Conclusions:
Community psychiatric nurses can safely and effectively deliver a brief CBT intervention to patients with schizophrenia and their carers.
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