Schizophrenia: Cognitive Theory, Research, and Therapy

From Aaron T. Beck and colleagues, this is the definitive work on the cognitive model of schizophrenia and its treatment. The volume integrates cognitive-behavioral and biological knowledge into a state-of-the-science conceptual framework. It comprehensively examines the origins, development, and maintenance of key symptom areas: delusions, hallucinations, negative symptoms, and formal thought disorder. Treatment chapters then offer concrete guidance for addressing each type of symptom, complete with case examples and session outlines. Anyone who treats or studies serious mental illness will find a new level of understanding and the latest theoretically and empirically grounded clinical techniques.

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Reviewer:Gary B Kaniuk, Psy.D.(Cermak Health Services)
Description:This book describes schizophrenia from a cognitive theoretical and biological perspective in order to understand symptomatology, assessment, and treatment. t shows how pharmacotherapy and psychosocial interventions can work hand-in-hand within a solid evidence-based foundation.
Purpose:According to the authors, "We have attempted to provide, first, an understanding of the origin, development, and maintenance of the symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, thinking disorder, and negative symptoms). Second, we have used our understanding of the symptomatology and our therapeutic experience fortified by the research in this area to present our suggestions for the treatment of this disorder. Finally, we have attempted to integrate the vast amount of research on the biology of schizophrenia with the relatively sparse work on its psychological aspects into a comprehensive psychobiological model of schizophrenia.
Audience:The audience includes clinical psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and rehabilitation specialists, as well as graduate students and residents in these fields. Dr. Aaron Beck, professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and president of the Beck Institute, developed cognitive therapy in the 1960s. Dr. Neil Rector is director of research at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto and is a founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, as is Dr. Neal Stolar, medical director at Project Transition in the Philadelphia area. Dr. Paul Grant is director of research in the department of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.
Features:An overview and biological look at schizophrenia begins the book, which then addresses the actual symptomatology from a cognitive perspective. The authors discuss both assessment and therapy issues, concluding by summarizing their integrative model of the interaction of "predisposing neurobiological, environmental, cognitive, and behavioral factors in the development of schizophrenia." The book does a nice job of addressing the importance of the therapeutic relationship, combining both process and content issues, an approach not often seen in cognitive therapy books. It contains excellent tables and figures, along with instructive case illustrations/vignettes. The eight appendixes contain assessment tools (Beck Cognitive Insight Scale, Cognitive Assessment of Psychosis Inventory), cognitive triads for delusional beliefs, and cognitive distortions within psychosis. The book combines theory, research, and practice very well. The story of John Nash's recovery from schizophrenia in the first chapter gives readers a good sense of where the book is headed and how the cognitive approach makes sense as opposed to a strictly biological model.
Assessment:This excellent book provides a thorough look at schizophrenia from both a biological and psychosocial perspective. Its step-by-step approach combines both research and practice. The authors address all the difficult issues including hallucinations, delusions, and negative symptoms, and show how the cognitive model can be applied. The book gives clinicians hope that something can be done to help individuals suffering from such a devastating mental illness.

Aaron T. Beck, MD, is University Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and the founder of cognitive therapy. He has published more than 20 books and over 540 articles in professional and scientific journals. Dr. Beck is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, the American Psychological Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the American Psychiatric Association Distinguished Service Award, the Robert J. and Claire Pasarow Foundation Award for Research in Neuropsychiatry, and the Institute of Medicine's Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health and Gustav O. Lienhard Award. He is President of The Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research and Honorary President of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.

Neil A. Rector, PhD, is Director of Research, Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. He is a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and an editorial board member of several cognitive therapy journals, and conducts research on cognitive mechanisms and cognitive therapy treatments for psychiatric disorders. Dr. Rector has an active clinical practice and is also involved in training and supervision.

Neal Stolar, MD-PhD, is a Medical Director and Director of the Cognitive Therapy for the Treatment of Psychosis Special Project at Project Transition in the Philadelphia area; a psychiatric consultant for Creative Health Services and Penn Behavioral Health; a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s Psychopathology Research Unit and Schizophrenia Research Center; and in private practice. Dr. Stolar is a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. He has lectured internationally on cognitive therapy of schizophrenia.

Paul Grant, PhD, is Director of Schizophrenia Research and a Fellow in the Psychopathology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Grant’s research interests include cognitive psychopathological models of positive and negative symptoms as well as cognitive therapy of schizophrenia. He is the author of several journal articles and book chapters.