Psychosocial treatment in schizophrenia and methods for treating drug-resistant psychotic symptoms: a case study

In this paper a case study in paranoid schizophrenia is presented. The techniques and intervention programmes are of tradicionally used in psychosocial interventions. In our case, pharmacological therapy and cognitivebehavioral threrapy are combined, centering basically on: group social skills training, cognitive processes training, and individual and family behavioral interventions. Within individual intervention, the patient is trained in managing information about medication, and techniques such as behavioral trial and cognitive restructuring are applied to reduce emotional disturbances: anxiety responses, anger, hostility and depressed mood. In the presence of auditory hallucinations resistant to medication, systematic desensitization, relaxation, behavioral trials, stop-thinking strategies, and managing distracting stimuli were applied in order to reduce intensity degree and frequency of onset. Finally results and case evolution during a 3-year follow-up period are discussed. in detail.