Effect of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on the Psychotic Symptoms of People with Schizophrenia-Associated Psychopathology in South-West Nigeria

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that is resistant to pharmacological therapy. This study aimed at assessing the effect of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on the psychotic symptoms of people with schizophrenia-associated psychopathology in South-West Zone of Nigeria. Quasi-experimental research design was utilized in the study. 60 persons diagnosed with schizophrenia were purposively assigned into intervention and control groups. Two research questions and four null hypotheses guided the study. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for schizophrenia (PANSS) instrument was used to collect data before and after CBT intervention. Data collected were summarized using frequency and percentages to describe the participants’ demographic characteristics. The research questions were answered using mean score and standard deviation, while Mann-Whitney test was adopted in testing the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Mann-Whitney Test analysis of the post-intervention scores of psychotic symptoms between the intervention group and control group in the positive domain revealed a significant difference between the intervention group and control group with z- score 2.60, p-value 0.009. Reduced psychotic symptoms were found among the participants who received CBT than those who did not receive CBT. In conclusion, CBT intervention with pharmacological management was effective in reducing psychotic symptoms. CBT should be integrated into routine care given to the schizophrenic clients in nursing intervention.