TY - JOUR
T1 - Detecting and defusing cognitive traps
T2 - Metacognitive intervention in schizophrenia
AU - Moritz, Steffen
AU - Vitzthum, Francesca
AU - Randjbar, Sarah
AU - Veckenstedt, Ruth
AU - Woodward, Todd S.
PY - 2010/11
Y1 - 2010/11
N2 - Purpose of Review: Until recently, psychological therapy for schizophrenia was considered harmful or inefficient by many clinicians. The reservation against psychotherapy is partly rooted in the assumption that delusions in particular and schizophrenia in general are not amenable to psychological understanding and represent 'utter madness'. However, meta-analyses suggest that cognitive intervention is effective in ameliorating schizophrenia symptoms. In addition, evidence has accumulated that cognitive biases, such as jumping to conclusions, are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia positive symptoms, particularly delusions. A recently developed group program, called metacognitive training (MCT), is presented targeting these biases. MCT is a hybrid of psychoeducation, cognitive remediation and cognitive-behavioural therapy. Recent Findings: This review introduces new evidence on cognitive biases involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and demonstrates how the MCT raises the patients' (metacognitive) awareness to detect and defuse such 'cognitive traps'. At the end, a new individualized variant entitled MCT+ is presented targeting individual delusional ideas. Finally, empirical results are summarized that speak in favour of the feasibility and efficacy of MCT. Summary: Recent studies assert marked cognitive biases in schizophrenia. MCT has evolved as a feasible and effective complement of standard psychiatric treatment.
AB - Purpose of Review: Until recently, psychological therapy for schizophrenia was considered harmful or inefficient by many clinicians. The reservation against psychotherapy is partly rooted in the assumption that delusions in particular and schizophrenia in general are not amenable to psychological understanding and represent 'utter madness'. However, meta-analyses suggest that cognitive intervention is effective in ameliorating schizophrenia symptoms. In addition, evidence has accumulated that cognitive biases, such as jumping to conclusions, are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia positive symptoms, particularly delusions. A recently developed group program, called metacognitive training (MCT), is presented targeting these biases. MCT is a hybrid of psychoeducation, cognitive remediation and cognitive-behavioural therapy. Recent Findings: This review introduces new evidence on cognitive biases involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and demonstrates how the MCT raises the patients' (metacognitive) awareness to detect and defuse such 'cognitive traps'. At the end, a new individualized variant entitled MCT+ is presented targeting individual delusional ideas. Finally, empirical results are summarized that speak in favour of the feasibility and efficacy of MCT. Summary: Recent studies assert marked cognitive biases in schizophrenia. MCT has evolved as a feasible and effective complement of standard psychiatric treatment.
KW - Cognition
KW - cognitive bias
KW - metacognition
KW - metacognitive training
KW - schizophrenia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77958165331&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/YCO.0b013e32833d16a8
DO - 10.1097/YCO.0b013e32833d16a8
M3 - Review article
C2 - 20683332
AN - SCOPUS:77958165331
VL - 23
SP - 561
EP - 569
JO - Current Opinion in Psychiatry
JF - Current Opinion in Psychiatry
SN - 0951-7367
IS - 6
ER -