Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Veterans With Schizophrenia

VA Office of Research and Development

Status: Completed

Conditions: Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Supportive Therapy (ST); Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT00688259

MHBB-016-07S

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a study comparing the benefits of two types of individual psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychosis and supportive therapy) in symptomatic Veteran outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Treatment lasted approximately 6 months, with outcome data on symptoms, functioning, and distress levels collected at baseline, post-treatment, and 6 months post -treatment follow-up.

Full description

This is a randomized controlled trial comparing 6 months of participation in one of two active treatments, cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychosis or supportive therapy in symptomatic Veterans diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who are still symptomatic. Assessments of clinical status and social functioning were obtained at baseline, end of treatment, and 6 month follow-up. We hypothesized that participation in the cognitive-behavioral therapy would lead to greater reductions in symptoms and distress about symptoms, and more improvements in social functioning.

Enrollment: 122 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in proximity to the West Los Angeles VAMC
• at least one month since last hospitalization
• stable antipsychotic medication with persisting psychotic symptoms with at least minimal distress
• competent to sign informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• in other individual psychotherapy
• presence of organic brain disease
• mental retardation
• illness that would prohibit regular attendance in therapy
• substance dependence diagnosis in the past 6 months.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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122 participants in 2 patient groups

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp)

Experimental group

Description:

approximately 6 months of weekly individual manualized cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for psychosis in which participants set personal goals, identify problematic/ illness-related beliefs and experiences that may interfere with achieving those goals, evaluate the data supporting those beliefs, and then modify the beliefs or behavior as warranted by the data to make progress on those goals.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp)

Supportive Therapy (ST)

Active Comparator group

Description:

approximately 6 months of weekly manualized supportive psychotherapy to promote a strong alliance between the therapist and the participant in order to provide a safe place to discuss issues pertaining to the participants' lives and concerns

Treatment:

Behavioral: Supportive Therapy (ST)