Brandy Eldridge | University of Southern California (original) (raw)

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Papers by Brandy Eldridge

Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 2005

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for schizophrenia has received a considerable amount of attent... more Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for schizophrenia has received a considerable amount of attention in recent years. 1-3 Since investigations began in earnest 10 years ago, 4 randomized controlled trials have tested CBT as an adjunctive treatment to medication in comparison to befriending, 5 supportive counseling, 6-8 enriched treatment-as-usual, 9 recreation therapy, 10 and routine care. 11 Recent review articles have outlined this treatment approach and summarized its usefulness. 12 In studies conducted to date, CBT has resulted in significant benefits to patients. CBT has been shown to be useful for positive symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, 5,13 and has also been shown to be useful for negative symptoms. 9 Two recent meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials indicated that the effect sizes for both positive and negative symptoms were large and that benefits were maintained at follow up. 14,15 Despite these encouraging results, limited attention has been paid to CBT for schizophrenia in the United States. Of the recent studies reviewed in the meta-analyses, only one study, conducted in Italy, was done outside the United Kingdom. 7 Since the meta-analyses were completed, one randomized controlled study was completed in Canada, 9 though none has yet been completed in the United States. CBT for schizophrenia has been delivered in both individual and group formats. Within the research literature, individual therapy is more common 5,9,11 and tends to be employed in the treatment of delusions. The group therapy modality appears less frequently in the literature and tends to be used in the treatment of auditory hallucinations. 13,16 Drury et al., 10 working with inpatients in the acute phase of the illness, have conducted the only published study to deliver CBT for schizophrenia utilizing a combination of group and individual therapy modalities. Their combined individual and group therapy approach demonstrated positive results and, although this has not yet been thoroughly tested, may be applicable to patients in the chronic phase of the illness Individual and Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Psychotic Disorders: A Pilot Investigation The present study is an uncontrolled pilot investigation of individual and group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients with positive symptoms of psychosis (n = 6). While previous studies have utilized either individual or group CBT for schizophrenia, the present investigation is the first to include both components for patients in the chronic phase of a psychotic illness. The results of this pilot study suggest that this approach may be useful for both positive and negative symptoms of psychosis. In addition, depression, anxiety, and hopelessness scores all decreased dramatically. The majority of the gains made during treatment were maintained over an 11-month follow-up period. A combined CBT treatment program may offer benefits in terms of delusional thinking, depression, and anxiety when used as an adjunctive treatment to medication. While the present study demonstrated positive effects from treatment, results are limited by the small sample size.

Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 2005

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for schizophrenia has received a considerable amount of attent... more Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for schizophrenia has received a considerable amount of attention in recent years. 1-3 Since investigations began in earnest 10 years ago, 4 randomized controlled trials have tested CBT as an adjunctive treatment to medication in comparison to befriending, 5 supportive counseling, 6-8 enriched treatment-as-usual, 9 recreation therapy, 10 and routine care. 11 Recent review articles have outlined this treatment approach and summarized its usefulness. 12 In studies conducted to date, CBT has resulted in significant benefits to patients. CBT has been shown to be useful for positive symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, 5,13 and has also been shown to be useful for negative symptoms. 9 Two recent meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials indicated that the effect sizes for both positive and negative symptoms were large and that benefits were maintained at follow up. 14,15 Despite these encouraging results, limited attention has been paid to CBT for schizophrenia in the United States. Of the recent studies reviewed in the meta-analyses, only one study, conducted in Italy, was done outside the United Kingdom. 7 Since the meta-analyses were completed, one randomized controlled study was completed in Canada, 9 though none has yet been completed in the United States. CBT for schizophrenia has been delivered in both individual and group formats. Within the research literature, individual therapy is more common 5,9,11 and tends to be employed in the treatment of delusions. The group therapy modality appears less frequently in the literature and tends to be used in the treatment of auditory hallucinations. 13,16 Drury et al., 10 working with inpatients in the acute phase of the illness, have conducted the only published study to deliver CBT for schizophrenia utilizing a combination of group and individual therapy modalities. Their combined individual and group therapy approach demonstrated positive results and, although this has not yet been thoroughly tested, may be applicable to patients in the chronic phase of the illness Individual and Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Psychotic Disorders: A Pilot Investigation The present study is an uncontrolled pilot investigation of individual and group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients with positive symptoms of psychosis (n = 6). While previous studies have utilized either individual or group CBT for schizophrenia, the present investigation is the first to include both components for patients in the chronic phase of a psychotic illness. The results of this pilot study suggest that this approach may be useful for both positive and negative symptoms of psychosis. In addition, depression, anxiety, and hopelessness scores all decreased dramatically. The majority of the gains made during treatment were maintained over an 11-month follow-up period. A combined CBT treatment program may offer benefits in terms of delusional thinking, depression, and anxiety when used as an adjunctive treatment to medication. While the present study demonstrated positive effects from treatment, results are limited by the small sample size.