Other · Treatment guide

Psychosis & Schizophrenia

Positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions), negative symptoms, and cognitive disturbance.

In this guide

Overview

Antipsychotic medication is the foundation. Psychotherapy is adjunctive but meaningfully improves outcomes — reducing distress from voices, improving functioning, and supporting recovery. Coordinated Specialty Care models are first-line for first-episode psychosis.

First-line treatments

Also consider

  • ACT

    ACT for psychosis — strong RCT base for rehospitalization reduction.

  • MI

    For engagement and medication adherence.

  • CFT

    Compassion-focused therapy for psychosis (CFTp) — addresses shame and self-attack.

Cautions

  • Therapy is adjunctive — do not position as replacement for medication.
  • Avoid aggressive reality-testing with delusions; collaborative empiricism is the stance.

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