The effect of cognitive behavioral treatment on the positive symptoms of schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis
Abstract
Background Despite the effectiveness of anti-psychotic pharmacotherapy, residual hallucinations and delusions do not completely resolve in some medicated patients. Additional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) seems to improve the management of positive symptoms. Despite promising results, the efficacy of CBT is still unclear. The present study addresses this issue taking into account a number of newly published controlled studies. Method Fourteen studies including 1484 patients, published between 1990 and 2004 were identified and a meta-analysis of their results performed. Results Compared to other adjunctive measures, CBT showed significant reduction in positive symptoms and there was a higher benefit of CBT for patients suffering an acute psychotic episode versus the chronic condition (effect size of 0.57 vs. 0.27). Discussion CBT is a promising adjunctive treatment for positive symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, a number of potentially modifying variables have not yet been examined, such as therapeutic alliance and neuropsychological deficits.
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CBT for psychosis is effective for SSD, with small-to-moderate effects on positive symptoms and small effects on negative symptoms.
“Cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis is recognized as an effective psychological treatment for SSD,13,14 with small-to-moderate effects on positive symptoms15,16 and small effects on negative symptoms.15,17”
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- Authors
- Zimmermann, G., Favrod, J., Trieu, V. H., & Pomini, V.
- Affiliations
- University of Lausanne (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Zimmermann, G.
- Venue
- Schizophrenia Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-09
- Volume
- 77
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-9
- ISSN
- 0920-9964 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2041224506
- Cited by
- 371
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 29
- FWCI
- 2.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Schizophrenia Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- IRIS (submittedVersion)
- SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics
- Keywords
- cognitive behavioral therapy, schizophrenia spectrum disorders
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Combined Modality Therapy, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Retrospective Studies, Schizophrenia, Schizophrenic Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome
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