Functional cognitive-behavioural therapy: a brief, individual treatment for functional impairments resulting from psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia

Abstract

This paper describes a novel cognitive-behavioural approach to treating psychotic symptoms--functional cognitive-behavioural therapy (FCBT)--which was developed with the primary aim of remediating social functioning deficits in patients with residual psychotic symptoms. In FCBT, symptom-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions are delivered in the context of working on functional goals: a premise of FCBT is that the therapeutic alliance and patient motivation are enhanced by linking interventions to life goals. The paper outlines the rationale for expanding existing approaches to target social functioning impairment and uses case illustrations to exemplify particular phases of treatment as well as specific CBT interventions. Results from a pilot study of FCBT are summarized, together with suggestions for new research directions.