BEHAVIOR-THERAPY AND SCHIZOPHRENIA - AN INTRODUCTION

This brief article introduces a two-part series of special issues of B ehaviour Change on the cognitive-behavioural treatment of schizophreni a. Two pervasive myths about schizophrenia inhibit effective psycholog ical treatment and rehabilitation: (1) that schizophrenia inevitably h as poor outcome, and (2) that drugs are effective in the management of schizophrenia. Neither of these myths is supported by available data. A stress-vulnerability model is described which provides a framework for understanding the variability in outcome of schizophrenia, and for conducting cognitive-behaviour therapy.