How Does Behavior Therapy Help Someone With Schizophrenia?

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Behavior therapy assumes that certain skills increase our ability to function in the world, and to solve problems as they arise. Many psychosocial skills develop as a consequence of our experiences in the world. We "learn from our mistakes" and from our successes in managing different types of problems. Since people have different life experiences, some people learn skills well, and others do not learn as many skills. Another individual difference, is our ability to learn from our experiences. In order to learn from experience, we must correctly analyze what was effective and what was not effective in solving a problem. We can also "learn" ineffective or maladaptive responses to problems, especially if those responses lead to immediate reduction of pain or embarrassment, despite having no affect on the long term solution to the problem. The learning of maladaptive responses top problems is often the result of cognitive distortions or making mistakes in assessing cause and effect. That is why cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy are often combined. Individuals with schizophrenia often make incorrect assessments of cause and effect. Also, they often do not learn as well from experience because of their disordered and disorganized thinking. Behavior therapy teaches them the social skills they never learned, and helps them understand when to apply those skills to problems in the world.

Examples of Behavioral Skills Training

• Stress Management Training
• Assertiveness Training
• Communication Skills Training
• Problem Solving Skills

Cognitive Family Therapy with Schizophrenia

Cognitive family treatment usually identifies the expectations of family members and how those expectations affect their interactions with the person diagnosed with schizophrenia. Additionally, connections are made between the family expectations and their emotional response to their ill relative. Appropriate expectations are explored, and problem solving sessions allow family members to meet their own emotional needs. Family members frequently need stress management training as well, and need to learn what their limits are, and what to do when those limits are reached.

Family Education

Very often, patients with schizophrenia are discharged from the hospital into the care of their family; so it is important that family members learn all they can about schizophrenia and understand the difficulties and problems associated with the illness. It is also helpful for family members to learn ways to minimize the patient's chance of relapse – for example, by using different treatment adherence strategies – and to be aware of the various kinds of outpatient and family services available in the period after hospitalization. Family "psycho education," which includes teaching various coping strategies and problem-solving skills, is a cognitive-behavioral treatment approach to family therapy. This approach can help families deal more effectively with their ill relative and may contribute to an improved outcome for the patient.

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Reviewed: 03/2006