Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-wxhwt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-11T05:37:27.751Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

CBT for a Person With Schizophrenia: Systematic Desensitization for Phobias Led to Positive Symptom Improvement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2005

Robert Dudley
Affiliation:
Newcastle Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Jaime Dixon
Affiliation:
Newcastle Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Douglas Turkington
Affiliation:
Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Abstract

Affective symptoms are often present and under-treated in schizophrenia. This case study reports the effect of treatment of a specific phobia and associated avoidance on the psychotic symptoms of a patient with medication resistant schizophrenia. The treatment of the specific phobia and agoraphobia followed a traditional systematic desensitization procedure. The successful treatment of the phobias led to improvements in psychotic symptoms. Previously, the client had only a limited response to a number of antipsychotic medications including clozapine but responded well to a traditional systematic desensitization program that produced positive consequences for the psychotic symptomatology. The clinical and theoretical aspects of this case are discussed.

Type
Brief Clinical Report
Copyright
© 2005 British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)
Supplementary material: File

Dudley extended material

Dudley extended document

Download Dudley extended material(File)
File 74.2 KB
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.