Psychotherapy in schizophrenia: a retrospective controlled study

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Although pharmacological interventions have been the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of psychotherapy.

Aims

To investigate whether a novel psychotherapeutic approach, dialog therapy (DT), has an effect beyond standard psychiatric treatment (ST) in schizophrenia.

Methods

Twenty-four patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and treated with DT and 24 patients matched on age, sex, and diagnosis receiving ST were included in the study.

Results

At follow-up after a mean of 4 years and 1 month, the DT group had significantly higher scores on the GAF functions (GAF-F) and GAF symptoms (GAF-S) subscales compared to the ST group. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were very large, 238 for GAF-S and 241 for GAF-F. The number and doses of psychoactive drugs were significantly lower in the DT group compared to the ST group at follow-up, despite a shorter time in psychotherapy in the DT group.

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary evidence that dialog therapy may lead to improvements in symptoms and functioning compared to standard psychiatric treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychotherapy
• schizophrenia
• authenticity
• emotions
• openness
• opportunity
• collaboration
• dialog

Disclosure statement

The first author (AH) has developed the psychotherapeutic approach and published a book about the method. The other authors have declared no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank psychiatrist Arild Hunstad, Ålesund, Norway, for his forthcoming assistance and the IT department at Ålesund Hospital.