Project Summary

Aaron Beck, M.D. (Distinguished Investigator 2006) of the University of Pennsylvania, will evaluate the effectiveness of adjunctive cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in relieving the negative symptoms, and improving social and occupational functioning, of patients with schizophrenia. Dr. Beck notes that CBT shows promise as a treatment for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, but it is unclear if it is superior to adjunctive counseling or routine care, and whether improvement can be generalized to improvement in social and occupational functioning. Dr. Beck has found that measuring negative patient attitudes, such as low expectancies for pleasure, for success at social and non-social tasks and for social acceptance, and defeatist attitudes regarding performance, mediates the relationship between poor neurocognitive performance, negative symptoms, and functioning. He will seek to determine if CBT, along with established pharmacological interventions for chronic schizophrenia, may yield an improved treatment option.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

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