Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Roughly one percent of Canadians suffer from schizophrenia, a serious mental illness for which there is no cure. Treatment with antipsychotic medications is often effective in reducing symptoms, yet for many individuals, hallucinations and delusional beliefs persist. Unsurprisingly, some sufferers have adapted to these circumstances by developing their own strategies to cope with their ongoing symptoms. In recent years, these techniques, collectively referred to as Positive Self-Talk strategies, have been studied and integrated into a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) curriculum developed specially for those with schizophrenia. In the course of treatment, patients engage in eight sessions of psycho-education, which includes instruction in Positive Self-Talk strategies, designed to assist in handling distressful situations related to their symptoms. This curriculum, entitled the Cognitive Coping Toolkit for Psychosis, has shown particular promise as a supplement to antipsychotic medication in the treatment of schizophrenia. Anecdotal reports suggest that patients appreciate the session focusing on instruction in Positive Self Talk and find it especially helpful in learning to cope with situations where their illness interferes with their ability to function. Hence, the intent of the current study is to empirically examine the whether a single session of CBT focusing on instruction in Positive Self-Talk alone, is effective in reducing distress associated with hallucinations and delusions and to test whether these effects are maintained over a one month period. Although schizophrenia has been recognized as a disease entity for over a century, it is still under-researched relative to its prevalence and societal impact. The proposed study aims to improve current understanding of psychotherapy processes that can complement antipsychotic medication in the effective treatment of schizophrenia, so as to improve the lives of those affected by this illness.