Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy

Table of Contents - 2002 - Volume 30, Issue 03  


Brief Clinical Reports

THE EFFECT OF TREATMENT OF A COMORBID ANXIETY DISORDER ON PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS IN A PATIENT WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA: A CASE STUDY

John Good  a1 c1
a1 Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Exeter, UK

Abstract

This case study deals with the effect of treatment of social phobia on psychotic symptoms in a patient with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Stress vulnerability models were used to provide a rationale for treatment. The phobia was treated using standard CBT techniques while the therapist avoided any direct treatment of the psychotic symptoms. Scores for social phobia reduced to a sub clinical level over the course of treatment and the psychotic symptoms rapidly abated. Although only a single case study and therefore impossible to generalize to a wider patient group the study would seem to suggest that treatment of comorbid anxiety disorders can effect psychotic symptoms. Some thoughts are presented as to why this might be the case.


Key Words: Psychosis; neurosis; social phobia; CBT.

Correspondence:
c1 Reprint requests and request for extended report to John Good, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Belmont Cottage, Baring Crescent, Exeter EX1 1TL, UK. E-mail: johnsgood@hotmail.com

0Comments
Related Content