Clinical efficacy of individual cognitive therapy in reducing psychiatric symptoms in people at ultra-high risk for psychosis

Abstract

Recently, cognitive therapy in people at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis has been reported to show modest treatment benefits. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of cognitive therapy in reducing psychiatric symptoms in UHR people in Korea. We developed cognitive therapy for people at UHR for psychosis inspired by Morrison in 2004. Twenty-two UHR subjects were assigned to cognitive therapy, and 18 subjects completed the 10-session therapy. Psychopathology scores were assessed at baseline and post-treatment. Cognitive therapy significantly reduced the severity of psychopathology including positive, negative and depressive symptoms. The within-group effect sizes indicated large treatment benefits for these psychopathologies. These findings suggest that cognitive therapy can be administered to people at UHR for psychosis in non-western culture.