Pilot-trial of Emotion-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Patients With Schizophrenia
Condition: Schizophrenia; Delusional Disorder; Schizoaffective Disorder; Brief Psychotic Disorder; Schizophreniform Disorder
MeSH terms: Schizophrenia; Mental Disorders; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia, Paranoid
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The present study is a pilot single-blind randomized controlled therapy study. Its aim is to
      assess the efficacy of an emotion-focussed form of Cognitive behavior Therapy that focusses
      on emotional processes that are involved in the formation and maintenance of delusions such
      as emotional stability, emotion regulation and self-esteem.
    

Detailed description: 
      Cognitive Behavior Therapy for psychosis (CBTp) is an effective treatment for patients with
      psychosis. Several meta-analyses showed an effect of CBTp in addition to antipsychotic
      treatment of small to medium effect size with regard to positive symptoms, general
      psychopathology and depression. Nevertheless, present research suggests that are especially
      emotional processes are closely related to positive symptoms and delusions, such as negative
      emotions, low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, whereas present interventions of CBTp
      focus often especially on cognitive interventions in order to change delusions as well as
      more cognitive risk factors for delusions such as reasoning biases and a dysfunctional causal
      attribution style.

      Thus, the aim of the present single-blind randomized-controlled pilot therapy study was to
      assess the efficacy of a new form of emotion-focussed Cognitive behavior therapy for
      psychosis with regard to change in positive symptoms and delusions in comparison to standard
      treatment.

      The main hypotheses are:

      - Efficacy of CBT-E: patients with schizophrenia who receive CBT-E show a more pronounced
      reduction of delusions (primary outcome), as well as a more pronounced reduction of positive
      symptoms, depression and general psychopathology, a stronger improvement in general and
      social functioning and will receive lower doses of antipsychotic medication (secondary
      outcomes) at post-treatment.
    

Intervention name(s): CBT-E; Treatment as Usual
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Patients receive 25 sessions of individual emotion-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy based on a manual. Interventions aim on patients' mood by implementing positive activities in their daily routine. Further, patients train to reduce worrying behavior. Social contacts are fostered as well. Later, patients are informed on emotions and train emotion regulation strategies. Finally, the focus of CBT-E is on self-acceptance.Patients receive psychoeducation on self-acceptance and learn strategies in order to reduce negative self-schema and foster positive self-schema.; Patients receive standardized treatment. After a waiting period of six month, patients receive CBT-E
Other intervention name(s): Emotion-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: The CBT-E group receives 15-25 sessions of cognitive behavior therapy with a special focus on emotion regulation (CBT-E), the wait list group receives CBT-E after six month waiting time
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Schizophrenia; psychotic disorders; Cognitive Behavior Therapy; emotion regulation; self-esteem; randomized-controlled trial