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Effectiveness of cognitive therapy for delusions in routine clinical practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2018

Simon Jakes ,
John Rhodes  and
Trevor Turner
Simon Jakes*
Affiliation:
Clinical Psychology Department, Gablestones, Dartford, Kent
John Rhodes
Affiliation:
Clinical Psychology Department, St Ann's Hospital, Tottenham, London
Trevor Turner
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Homerton Hospital, London
*
Simon Jakes, Clinical Psychology Department, Gablestones, Stone House, Cotton Lane. Dartford, Kent DA2 6AU
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Abstract

Background

Previous studies have suggested that cognitive therapy is effective in modifying delusions.

Aims

To assess the effectiveness of cognitive therapy on patients seen in routine clinical work.

Method

Eighteen patients with chronic delusions were treated using cognitive therapy, after the method of Chadwick and Lowe. A single-case multiple-baseline experimental design was used, including a control treatment. Each subject was used as their own control.

Results

Six patients reduced conviction in their delusions during cognitive therapy and not during the control treatment. Seven patients' conviction ratings did not change. Five patients showed a variable response. Degree of conviction did not fall to zero in any patient. All patients reported that the therapy had been helpful; six spontaneously mentioned changes in psychotic thinking.

Conclusions

One-third of patients with chronic delusions whom we treated responded to delusion modification with a reduction in degree of belief. Change within therapy sessions predicted outcome, as did variation in the conviction during baseline. Cognitive therapy with delusions should aim at reducing distress as well as conviction.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 175 , Issue 4 , October 1999 , pp. 331 - 335
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

All authors were employed by City and Hackney NHS Trust. No external funding was provided.

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