1
|
Sheffield JM, Brinen AP, Feola B, Heckers S, Corlett PR. Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis Through the Predictive Coding Framework. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100333. [PMID: 38952435 PMCID: PMC11215207 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Psychological treatments for persecutory delusions, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis, are efficacious; however, mechanistic theories explaining why they work rarely bridge to the level of cognitive neuroscience. Predictive coding, a general brain processing theory rooted in cognitive and computational neuroscience, has increasing experimental support for explaining symptoms of psychosis, including the formation and maintenance of delusions. Here, we describe recent advances in cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis-based psychotherapy for persecutory delusions, which targets specific psychological processes at the computational level of information processing. We outline how Bayesian learning models employed in predictive coding are superior to simple associative learning models for understanding the impact of cognitive behavioral interventions at the algorithmic level. We review hierarchical predictive coding as an account of belief updating rooted in prediction error signaling. We examine how this process is abnormal in psychotic disorders, garnering noisy sensory data that is made sense of through the development of overly strong delusional priors. We argue that effective cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis systematically targets the way sensory data are selected, experienced, and interpreted, thus allowing for the strengthening of alternative beliefs. Finally, future directions based on these arguments are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia M. Sheffield
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Aaron P. Brinen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Brandee Feola
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Stephan Heckers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Philip R. Corlett
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ruffalo ML. The Psychotherapy of Schizophrenia: A Review of the Evidence for Psychodynamic and Nonpsychodynamic Treatments. PSYCHIAT CLIN PSYCH 2023; 33:222-228. [PMID: 38765312 PMCID: PMC11082629 DOI: 10.5152/pcp.2023.23627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Following the discovery of chlorpromazine's effectiveness as a treatment for schizophrenia in the 1950s, a gradual shift away from psychotherapeutic and toward biological methods of investigation has ensued. Nevertheless, psychological approaches to schizophrenia have a long history and continue to represent an important component of schizophrenia treatment. In the past 2 decades, there has been renewed interest in psychotherapy for schizophrenia among some clinicians and researchers. This article examines the current evidence for both psychodynamic and nonpsychodynamic (cognitive-behavioral, cognitive enhancement, and psychoeducational) therapies for schizophrenic illness. There is evidence to support the use of both types of therapies though these orientations generally differ in their views on the role of psychological factors in the etiology of schizophrenia. It is argued that a pluralistic or biopsychosocial model of schizophrenia is necessary to account for the complexity of the disease and to provide the most effective treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark L. Ruffalo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA; Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Modesti MN, Arena JF, Palermo N, Del Casale A. A Systematic Review on Add-On Psychotherapy in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12031021. [PMID: 36769673 PMCID: PMC9918236 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12031021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia spectrum disorders represent a varied class of mental illnesses characterised by psychosis. In addition to negative and positive symptoms, a significant lack of insight often hinders the therapeutic process. We performed an overview of the existing literature concerning these disorders to summarise the state of knowledge in the psychotherapies applied to treating psychotic symptoms. We searched the PubMed database, including randomised controlled and clinical trials, including 17 studies conducted on 1203 subjects. Psychotherapy of schizophrenia spectrum disorders can improve social functioning and positive symptoms, as well as many other symptomatic areas, and could therefore be considered a helpful adjunctive treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Among cognitive-behavioural therapies and the newest derived approaches, there is evidence that they can improve different psychotic symptoms. On the other hand, psychodynamic psychotherapies can have a positive influence on psychotic symptoms as well. Further studies are needed to identify better-tailored treatment protocols for schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Nicole Modesti
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Jan Francesco Arena
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Natalia Palermo
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Del Casale
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dellazizzo L, Potvin S, Phraxayavong K, Dumais A. One-year randomized trial comparing virtual reality-assisted therapy to cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. NPJ SCHIZOPHRENIA 2021; 7:9. [PMID: 33580033 PMCID: PMC7881089 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-021-00139-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The gold-standard cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for psychosis offers at best modest effects. With advances in technology, virtual reality (VR) therapies for auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), such as AVATAR therapy (AT) and VR-assisted therapy (VRT), are amid a new wave of relational approaches that may heighten effects. Prior trials have shown greater effects of these therapies on AVH up to a 24-week follow-up. However, no trial has compared them to a recommended active treatment with a 1-year follow-up. We performed a pilot randomized comparative trial evaluating the short- and long-term efficacy of VRT over CBT for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Patients were randomized to VRT (n = 37) or CBT (n = 37). Clinical assessments were administered before and after each intervention and at follow-up periods up to 12 months. Between and within-group changes in psychiatric symptoms were assessed using linear mixed-effects models. Short-term findings showed that both interventions produced significant improvements in AVH severity and depressive symptoms. Although results did not show a statistically significant superiority of VRT over CBT for AVH, VRT did achieve larger effects particularly on overall AVH (d = 1.080 for VRT and d = 0.555 for CBT). Furthermore, results suggested a superiority of VRT over CBT on affective symptoms. VRT also showed significant results on persecutory beliefs and quality of life. Effects were maintained up to the 1-year follow-up. VRT highlights the future of patient-tailored approaches that may show benefits over generic CBT for voices. A fully powered single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing VRT to CBT is underway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Dellazizzo
- Research center of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and addictology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Stéphane Potvin
- Research center of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and addictology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Alexandre Dumais
- Research center of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry and addictology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
- Services et Recherches Psychiatriques AD, Montreal, Canada.
- Institut national de psychiatrie légale Philippe-Pinel, Montreal, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Dellazizzo L, Potvin S, Phraxayavong K, Dumais A. Exploring the Benefits of Virtual Reality-Assisted Therapy Following Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Auditory Hallucinations in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: A Proof of Concept. J Clin Med 2020; 9:E3169. [PMID: 33007909 PMCID: PMC7601104 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9103169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for psychosis with another psychosocial intervention comprising virtual reality (VR)-assisted therapy (VRT) may improve targeted outcomes in treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients. METHODS Ten participants having followed CBT were part of our comparative clinical trial comparing VRT to CBT and were selected at the end of the study as they desired to continue to achieve improvements with VRT (CBT + VRT). Clinical assessments were administered before/after treatments and at follow-ups. Changes in outcomes were examined using linear mixed-effects models. To gain a more in depth understanding on CBT + VRT, therapists' notes, and open interviews on a sub-group of patients were qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS Findings showed that the sequence of both interventions was appreciated by all patients. Several significant improvements were found throughout time points on auditory verbal hallucinations, beliefs about voices, depressive symptoms, symptoms of schizophrenia and quality of life. Although most of these improvements were in similar range to those observed in our comparative trial, effects of CBT + VRT on depressive symptoms and symptoms of schizophrenia were larger than those found for either intervention alone. CONCLUSION This proof of concept is the first to merge gold-standard CBT with VRT for treatment refractory voices and to suggest a certain synergistic effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Dellazizzo
- Research Center of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, 7331 Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Stéphane Potvin
- Research Center of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, 7331 Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | | | - Alexandre Dumais
- Research Center of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, 7331 Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Services et Recherches Psychiatriques AD, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Institut National de Psychiatrie légale Philippe-Pinel, Montreal, QC H1C 1H1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Morin L, Franck N. Rehabilitation Interventions to Promote Recovery from Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:100. [PMID: 28659832 PMCID: PMC5467004 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Only one out of seven patients recovers after a first episode of psychosis despite psychiatric care. Rehabilitation interventions have been developed to improve functional outcomes and to promote recovery. We conducted a systematic review of the effectiveness of the main psychiatric rehabilitation interventions following a search of the electronic databases Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using combinations of terms relating to cognitive remediation, psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapies, and schizophrenia. Eighty articles relevant to the topic of interest were found. According to results, cognitive remediation has been found to be effective in reducing the impact of cognitive impairment, social skills in the learning a variety of skills and to a lesser extent in reducing negative symptoms, psychoeducation in improving compliance and reducing relapses, and cognitive therapy in reducing the intensity of or distress related to positive symptoms. All psychosocial rehabilitation interventions should be considered as evidence-based practices for schizophrenia and need to become a major part of the standard treatment of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Morin
- Resource Center of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Cognitive Remediation, Le Vinatier Hospital, Lyon, France.,Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Lyon, France
| | - Nicolas Franck
- Resource Center of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Cognitive Remediation, Le Vinatier Hospital, Lyon, France.,Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Lyon, France.,UMR 5229 CNRS & Claude Bernard University, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Andreou C, Moritz S. Editorial: Non-pharmacological Interventions for Schizophrenia: How Much Can Be Achieved and How? Front Psychol 2016; 7:1289. [PMID: 27621717 PMCID: PMC5002417 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Andreou
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfHamburg, Germany; Center for Gender Research and Early Detection, University of Basel Psychiatric ClinicsBasel, Switzerland
| | - Steffen Moritz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|