Psychological therapy in schizophrenia: what is the evidence?

Objective: The present contribution provides a critical outline of the curr ent position of psychological therapies in schizophrenia. Method: Therefore. empirical research into the efficacy of psychological in terventions in the treatment of schizophrenic disorders has been reviewed. Results: Four cognitive-behavioural approaches have emerged as pre-eminentl y effective, or at least especially promising, as adjuncts to pharmacothera py, i.e. the training of social skills, cognitive training programs for the remediation of neurocognitive deficits, psychoeducative, coping-orientated interventions with patients and their families, and cognitive-behavioural therapy of residual symptoms. These approaches are discussed with regard to their efficacy in reducing relapse rates, psychopathology as well as cogni tive and social disability. Conclusion: Open questions and possibilities for the further development of these approaches are considered and prognostications are made concerning t he future of psychotherapy research in schizophrenia, notably in the light of changing conditions in public health care systems.