Research Watch: talking therapy for anxiety and social difficulties may improve social inclusion after diagnosis with schizophrenia
| Pages | 7-12 |
| Published date | 05 March 2014 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-11-2013-0035 |
| Date | 05 March 2014 |
| Author | Sue Holttum |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
Research Watch: talking therapy for anxiety
and social difficulties may improve social
inclusion after diagnosis with schizophrenia
Sue Holttum
Dr Sue Holttum is a Senior
Lecturer, based at Clinical
Psychology Training
Programme, Salomons Centre
for Applied Psychology,
Canterbury Christ Church
University, Southborough,
Kent, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to summarize two 2013 papers on psychological therapies for
people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Design/methodology/approach – The first paper is a report of a small study of cognitive behaviour
therapy for anxiety in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia attending an early intervention service.
The second paper is a review of several studies looking at therapies to help people understand what others
are feeling and thinking, and so cope better in social situations.
Findings – Out of 11 people referred to the anxiety group, seven stayed until the end. Their self-rated
anxiety and depression decreased significantly. The review of therapies for social situations suggests that
there is a need for more than just training in understanding other people. It is probably necessary to offer a
package of therapy that involves role-play and practising skills in actual situations, and possibly involving
friends or family members.
Originality/value – These papers report on therapies that have only recently begun to be considered for
people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. It seems much more attention needs to be paid to helping
people with anxiety when they have this diagnosis, and also to helping people cope in social situations so
that they can participate in important social activities and work.
Keywords Anxiety, Social inclusion, Schizophrenia, CBT, Psychosis, Social skills training
Paper type Viewpoint
Although it is not yet common practice, the UK’s national guidelines on “schizophrenia”
(psychotic conditions) state that people with this diagnosis should be offered talking
therapies (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2009). These guidelines
particularly recommend cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). CBT involves exploring our
thoughts, feelings and everyday actions, and how these relate to each other. It can involve
challenging unhelpful thoughts, and reminding ourselves of our strengths. Usually there is
also consideration of the situation we are in, since this can be a source of stress or support.
There is usually “homework”: things to practice outside the therapy sessions. Some CBT
therapists help people to cope with hearing voices (Chadwick et al., 2000), but in this
Research Watch paper I look at two recent studieson C BT forother kinds of difficulty: the first
paper notes that people with a schizophrenia diagnosis can feel very anxious, and its authors
tried out a CBT package specifically for anxiety. The second paper discusses helping people
cope with social situations. Both papers suggest that these therapiescan be helpful and may
lead to increased social inclusion.
Tackling anxiety
Anxiety can be overlooked in people with a diagnosisof schizophrenia, say Alison Welfare-Wilson
and Rebecca Newman in their 2013 paper. Yet they note that it is quite common. From their
DOI 10.1108/MHSI-11-2013-0035 VOL. 18 NO. 1 2014, pp. 7-12, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
j
MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
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