Cognitive behaviour therapy as used in the treatment
of schizophrenia
This is a relatively new development in the treatment of schizophrenia and has
caused some controversy
Some practitioners believe that voice-hearers can be helped to bring the voices
under their control, using cognitive behavioural techniques (CBT)
What are the techniques
The process begins by asking the patient to focus on the nature of the voices
they hear
For example, thinking about their tone, or whether they are male or female
They might also find external ways of focusing, by drawing pictures of different
voices
Challenges beliefs (including origin of “voices”)
Therapists help the patient to recognise that the voices represent part of
their own thought processes
The therapist questions the client’s delusional interpretation and puts
forward a more reasonable one (often elicited from the client).
An “evil” voice may represent their own desire for self-harm
Reality testing
Reality testing involves planning and performing an activity to invalidate
a belief
of schizophrenia
This is a relatively new development in the treatment of schizophrenia and has
caused some controversy
Some practitioners believe that voice-hearers can be helped to bring the voices
under their control, using cognitive behavioural techniques (CBT)
What are the techniques
The process begins by asking the patient to focus on the nature of the voices
they hear
For example, thinking about their tone, or whether they are male or female
They might also find external ways of focusing, by drawing pictures of different
voices
Challenges beliefs (including origin of “voices”)
Therapists help the patient to recognise that the voices represent part of
their own thought processes
The therapist questions the client’s delusional interpretation and puts
forward a more reasonable one (often elicited from the client).
An “evil” voice may represent their own desire for self-harm
Reality testing
Reality testing involves planning and performing an activity to invalidate
a belief
