Group CBT for Psychosis A Guidebook for Clinicians

Psychosis implies an alteration of one's reality, with specific beliefs and sensory experiences that affect one's judgment and capacity to function socially. Previously, medication alone was believed to attenuate or eliminate psychotic symptoms; however, more than two decades of empirical evidence now support the use of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for psychosis, including group CBT for psychosis. Group CBT for Psychosis offers the first published group therapy module of its kind and is suitable for a broad range of mental health professionals. Group therapy for people with psychosis is often recommended given its cost-efficiency and indirect benefits such as improved social skills and social support, yet delivery of this group intervention necessitates specialized skills and knowledge not typically included as part of most clinical training programs. This book offers thorough descriptions of relevant techniques, clinical vignettes, and worksheets for use in group sessions. Individual chapters focus on the basics of CBT for psychosis, essential elements of group therapy, explaining the CBT model in a group context, techniques for various symptoms, measuring change, common obstacles to group CBT for psychosis, and much more. Group CBT for Psychosis will be a valuable resource for psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, and graduate students in these fields. Professors and supervisors teaching clinical skills, such as how to run groups or how to conduct CBT in groups with people with psychotic disorders, will also find this book very useful.

Tania Lecomte, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Université de Montréal and a registered clinical psychologist. Dr. Lecomte has helped develop and validate assessment tools as well as several group interventions for individuals with severe mental illness. Dr. Lecomte has received several national research grants and awards over the years and has published more than 80 articles and co-edited two books on psychiatric rehabilitation (in French). Claude Leclerc, RN, PhD, is a mental health nurse specialist, Professor of mental health nursing at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and Invited Professor at the Université de Lausanne, Switzerland. His research interests are mostly centered around mental state evaluation, design and validation of rehabilitation intervention oriented toward recovery for individuals presenting a first episode of psychosis, and cognitive behavioural techniques for psychosis. Til Wykes is Professor of Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation and Vice Dean of Psychology and Systems Sciences at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London. She has been involved in research on rehabilitation for many years, both in the development of services and the evaluation of innovative psychological treatments. She is also the director of the Centre for Recovery in Severe Psychosis (CRiSP).