A Systematic Review on Add-On Psychotherapy in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders represent a varied class of mental illnesses characterised by psychosis. In addition to negative and positive symptoms, a significant lack of insight often hinders the therapeutic process. We performed an overview of the existing literature concerning these disorders to summarise the state of knowledge in the psychotherapies applied to treating psychotic symptoms. We searched the PubMed database, including randomised controlled and clinical trials, including 17 studies conducted on 1203 subjects. Psychotherapy of schizophrenia spectrum disorders can improve social functioning and positive symptoms, as well as many other symptomatic areas, and could therefore be considered a helpful adjunctive treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Among cognitive-behavioural therapies and the newest derived approaches, there is evidence that they can improve different psychotic symptoms. On the other hand, psychodynamic psychotherapies can have a positive influence on psychotic symptoms as well. Further studies are needed to identify better-tailored treatment protocols for schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Keywords: psychosis; psychotherapy; psychotic symptoms; schizophrenia; social functioning.

Figure 1

PRISMA search strategy on add-on psychotherapy of schizophrenia spectrum disorders.