Cognitive Therapy

What they are trying to find out in this study is whether or not cognitive therapy reduces the severity of psychotic experiences in adults who may develop schizophrenia. “…set out to determine whether cognitive therapy, combined with monitoring, is effective in preventing the development and worsening of psychotic symptoms which can lead to schizophrenia, in young adults who were actively seeking help and were considered a high risk of developing schizophrenia and similar serious mental disorders.” It would be great if it will work to lessen the severity of a psychosis. Also get help sooner the way they say you have even a greater chance for recovery.
The article says: “The 288 young people in the trial were between the ages of 14 and 35 and came from across the UK:… 114 were assigned at random to cognitive therapy and 144 to monitoring of mental state alone and were followed up for two years. Those in the cognitive therapy group had up to 26 weekly sessions over six months and all patients had access to a GP throughout the trial if they required.” That seems like a good break down of a study. They gave them access to a doctor if they needed.
It also may help people not develop psychosis. “Overall, fewer of the young people developed psychosis than expected over the next year (23/288, 8%), with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Results show that although cognitive therapy is not effective in preventing the development of first episode psychosis for those few that transition, it does significantly reduce the severity, frequency and intensity of psychotic symptoms in this help-seeking population.” Well it does not help stop you from getting a mental illness. Although it does help the severity of the mental illness and that is also good news.