Recovery Therapy Trial

Applicability of CBT to Unselected Mental Health Service Clients With Psychotic Disorders

This project will systematically apply a specialist version of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), known as Recovery Therapy, to a random sample of patients with psychotic disorders. Previously, the therapy has been developed and efficacy established, but the extent of applicability to (unselected) mental health service patients is unknown. The main aim is to establish the extent to which this therapy is acceptable and effective for mental health service clients. A secondary aim is to develop guidelines for the conduct of such therapy in public mental health settings.

Inclusion Criteria:

• acceptance by the participating Community Mental Health Services for case management
• a preliminary DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, mood disorder with psychotic features, or delusional disorder
• a recovery "need" in one of the areas addressed by the therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• a preliminary DSM-IV diagnosis of brief psychotic disorder, drug-induced psychosis, mood disorder without hallucinations or delusions, or any other disorder (eg. personality disorder, PTSD) even where psychotic features are/have been present
• non-English speaking
• comorbid intellectual disability