Cognitive behavioural therapy (brief versus standard duration) for schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychotherapy
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp) is a treatment for schizophrenia that links thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
• Brief CBTp may address resource and training limitations in delivering standard CBTp.
• Evidence for CBTp's effectiveness in schizophrenia exists, but its provision is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the effects of brief CBTp (6-10 sessions) compared to standard CBTp (12-20 sessions) for schizophrenia.
• To assess the efficacy of a manualized, shorter duration CBTp intervention.
• To compare outcomes between abbreviated and full-course CBTp in schizophrenia patients.

Main Methods:

• Searched Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's Trials Register and other databases up to August 2013.
• Included randomized controlled trials comparing brief CBTp with standard CBTp in adults with schizophrenia.
• Two authors independently screened studies, with no language, date, or publication status limitations.

Main Results:

• Seven studies using brief CBTp were identified.
• No studies directly compared brief CBTp with standard duration CBTp.
• No studies met the inclusion criteria for direct comparison.

Conclusions:

• There is currently no literature comparing brief CBTp with standard CBTp for schizophrenia.
• The effectiveness of brief CBTp relative to standard CBTp cannot be determined.
• Well-designed randomized trials are needed to evaluate brief CBTp in schizophrenia.