The Application of Maultsby ’s Rational Behavior Therapy in Psychosis – A Case Report

We report the case of a 17-year-old patient who had been recently diagnosed with schizophrenia according to ICD-10 criteria, presenting with recurrent psychotic symptoms and suicidal ideation. Over 1.5  years, the patient was treated in an outpatient setting with antipsychotic medications and, intermittently, with RBT-based psychotherapy (by the first author). The therapy process was interrupted periodically due to temporary improvements in the patient’s status, non-adherence, or relapses, incl uding one episode requiring hospitalization. Nevertheless, the treatment eventually resulted in a long-lasting remission. We present examples of the RBT techniques used in this therapeutic process and highlight this treatment modality’s unique features which support patients utilizing rational sel f-counseling skills to become more independent in coping with their problems. We emphasize that patients with a mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder also suffer from learned emotional disturbances that are amenable to treatment with cognitive-behavior therapies like RBT. In conclusi on, we submit that with its self-counseling properties, RBT offers non-intrusive ways of helping people experiencing psychotic symptoms as part of their diagnosis and in prodromal or non-diagnostic states.
Source: Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research