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Cognitive Therapy and Recovery from Acute Psychosis: a Controlled Trial

II. Impact on Recovery Time

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Val Drury ,
Max Birchwood ,
Ray Cochrane  and
Fiona MacMillan
Val Drury
Affiliation:
Archer Centre, All Saints Hospital, Birmingham B18 5SD
Max Birchwood*
Affiliation:
Archer Centre, All Saints Hospital, Birmingham B18 5SD
Ray Cochrane
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham B15 2TT
Fiona MacMillan
Affiliation:
formerly Department of Psychiatry, University of Birmingham, presently St. Edwards Hospital, Leek, Staffordshire
*
Professor M. Birchwood, Archer Centre, All Saints Hospital, Northern Birmingham Mental Health Trust, Lodge Road, Winson Green, Birmingham B18 5SD
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Abstract

Background

A trial of CT in acute psychosis conducted by the authors has shown a significant impact on the rate and degree of recovery of positive symptoms, the focus of the intervention. This paper seeks to determine whether these effects generalise to other features of acute psychosis including dysphoria, insight and ‘low level’ psychotic thinking which were not directly targeted.

Method

Measures of dysphoria, insight and psychotic thinking were taken over a six-month period following presentation for acute psychosis. Using survival analysis, time to recovery from psychosis using three definitions of increasing stringency was compared between the CT and control group.

Results

CT was associated with a 25–50% reduction in recovery time depending on the definition used.

Conclusion

The impact of the CT intervention extended beyond positive symptoms to include insight, dysphoria and ‘low level’ psychotic thinking. Nevertheless this kind of ‘clinical’ recovery required a median of 20 weeks to complete. Implications for clinical models of acute care are discussed.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 5 , November 1996 , pp. 602 - 607
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1996 

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