Schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders affect between 0.25 percent and 0.64 percent of people in the United States. There’s no cure, but treatment can help manage symptoms and make daily life easier. Antipsychotic medications have been thoroughly tested and are commonly used to treat schizophrenia, but by themselves, they may have some limitations.

Along with antipsychotic medication, adding psychosocial treatments can give people with schizophrenia extra support. The goal of treatment may include relapse prevention, increased independent living skills, or improved medication adherence. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of psychosocial treatment options for schizophrenia.

What Is Psychosocial Treatment for Schizophrenia?

Psychosocial treatments are like tool kits for mental health, offering therapy, social skills, and job training. They can be used to treat people with mild, moderate, or severe mental illnesses, including schizophrenia.

Psychosocial rehabilitation includes mental health services that aim to support people with schizophrenia or other mental illnesses by educating them, providing them with resources, and teaching them coping skills. With these services, a person with schizophrenia might have fewer hospitalizations, improved relationships with peers and family members, and fewer issues at school or work.

Most of the time, psychosocial treatments are used with antipsychotic medication to treat multiple aspects of schizophrenia and make life better for people living with the condition. The goal is to improve symptoms and overall well-being.

Below, we discuss some of the most common psychosocial treatments for people living with schizophrenia. These treatments are evidence-based, meaning they’ve been carefully studied and shown to help.

7 Common Psychosocial Treatments for Schizophrenia

There are various forms of psychosocial treatment. Some people respond better to one type of therapy than another. To figure out which may work best for a particular person, a psychotherapist will consider factors including their personality and the nature of the issues they’re working on.

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on changing harmful or negative ways of thinking and acting. CBT helps people recognize and change unhelpful thoughts, especially when they’re having confusing or unusual experiences. It can help them feel more in control and better understand what’s real.

CBT is usually part of a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes medication and other psychological treatments.

CBT is a relatively short-term treatment, usually lasting six to 20 sessions. Sessions are typically weekly or every two weeks and last 30 minutes to an hour. CBT is effective in treating a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

CBT is usually part of a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes medication and other psychological treatments. It is usually done one-on-one with a mental health professional, such as a therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist.

In the past 25 years, there’s been a growing interest in using CBT techniques to help people with schizophrenia — especially those who still have psychotic symptoms despite getting the best possible drug treatment.

In people with schizophrenia, CBT aims to lessen the severity of symptoms like psychosis, delusions, and hallucinations, which are called positive symptoms. CBT helps them become more involved in preventing relapse (return of symptoms). CBT can also help to reduce what are called negative symptoms, such as withdrawal and lack of motivation, which can lead to social difficulties.

2. Family Therapy

Family therapy (also known as family intervention) includes the person with schizophrenia and their family members. The goal of family psychoeducation is to help family members better understand and support the person with schizophrenia. Family therapy aims to help family members communicate better and feel closer, which can make life easier for everyone.

The therapy usually involves group sessions with a therapist. Family members can talk about and work through problems, such as caregiving for the person with schizophrenia, managing symptoms, and living with the stress of the illness.

3. Social Skills Training

Social skills training (SST) focuses on helping people improve their social functioning and interactions with others. Through SST, they learn how to improve their social-interaction abilities, such as engaging in meaningful conversation, expressing emotions in a healthy way, and practicing creative problem-solving.

Social skills training can help you improve your social-interaction abilities, such as engaging in meaningful conversation, expressing emotions in a healthy way, and practicing creative problem-solving.

SST can be done individually, with family members, or in a group setting — but the group approach is the most common. Groups of people living with schizophrenia — usually four to 12 — meet regularly with one or two therapists to learn and improve social abilities. The therapist may use strategies such as leading role-playing exercises and showing video examples to help participants develop and improve their skills.

Social abilities include:

• Speaking and listening well
• Understanding body language and facial expressions
• Getting along with others
• Understanding and sharing others’ feelings
• Speaking up for yourself when needed
• Working well with others
• Solving problems when conflicts arise

Although research is limited, studies have found that SST may improve the quality of life for people living with schizophrenia by helping them create more meaningful relationships with loved ones and encouraging them to be more independent. SST may also help reduce symptoms like paranoia and delusions and can help reduce feelings of distress.

4. Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocational rehabilitation helps people with disabilities or serious health issues, such as schizophrenia, prepare for, find, and keep a job. The goal of vocational rehabilitation is to help people with schizophrenia work and live productive, independent lives.

Vocational rehabilitation services may include:

• Job training and placement
• Skills assessment
• Help with finding appropriate work opportunities

Vocational rehabilitation can help with resume building, interview preparation, and job search strategies.

This form of treatment fits under the umbrella of psychosocial rehabilitation, where people with mental health conditions work with a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist to maintain important skills helpful for their day-to-day lives.

5. Case Management

Case management is a way to help people with complicated health needs. It’s like having someone who helps organize everything you need to stay healthy and improve your life. This person, called a case manager, makes sure you get the right help and support at the right time. They work with different services to make sure everything fits together well for you. This process helps you feel more confident about managing your health and making positive changes in your life.

Everyone’s experience with schizophrenia is different, and some forms of psychosocial treatment may be a better fit for one person than another.

The case manager also works with the person with schizophrenia and their healthcare providers to make sure they get the help and services they need. This could mean putting the person in touch with other healthcare providers, community resources, or social services.

One holistic approach is assertive community treatment of schizophrenia, which was developed to help people manage needs directly associated with their illnesses, like medication and psychiatry appointments. “Holistic” refers to considering the whole person or situation, rather than just focusing on one part. It’s about looking at all the different aspects and how they’re connected to see the full picture and offer the right support.

A holistic approach may also help individuals with indirectly associated responsibilities, like housing, finances, and other factors important to their quality of life.

6. Metacognitive Training

Metacognitive training (MCT) is another type of psychosocial therapy. Similar to conventional CBT, MCT helps you become more aware of your thought biases to identify and control delusions and other positive schizophrenia symptoms.

Typically, MCT involves some elements of psychoeducation and talk therapy. It can take place in individual or group therapy sessions and usually involves eight to 10 sessions. The results of a meta-analysis showed that people treated with MCT for psychosis experienced improvements in their symptoms for up to a year.

7. Peer Support Therapy

Peer support therapy involves talking to and getting help from other people who’ve been through similar mental health issues. There are many kinds of peer support therapy, such as:

• Peer support groups — These are groups where individuals with schizophrenia can meet regularly to discuss their experiences and offer one another support and encouragement.
• Peer mentorship programs — These programs match individuals who have schizophrenia to peer mentors who live with the condition and can offer guidance and support.
• Peer-led psychoeducation — This type of therapy involves individuals with schizophrenia teaching others about their experiences and the challenges of living with the condition.

Peer support therapy may help some individuals with schizophrenia develop coping skills and better manage their symptoms. Research suggests that peer support therapy may improve recovery outcomes, such as a better quality of life and fewer hospital visits.

Possible Side Effects of Psychosocial Treatments

Like all treatments, psychosocial interventions for schizophrenia can have some side effects. However, these side effects are often mild and short-lived. Some of the common side effects of psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia include:

• Fatigue or hopelessness — Psychotherapy sessions can be mentally draining, and some people may experience fatigue afterward.
• Emotional discomfort — Some individuals may feel uncomfortable discussing personal issues and experiences in therapy.
• Emotional upset — Talking about difficult experiences and emotions can sometimes be triggering and lead to short-term emotional upset.

These side effects are usually temporary, and the benefits of psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia can outweigh any temporary discomfort. If you try one of these treatments and experience severe or persistent side effects, talk to your therapist or doctor to determine the best course of action.

Choosing a Psychosocial Treatment

Everyone’s experience with schizophrenia is different, and some forms of psychosocial treatment may be a better fit for one person than another. Work with your doctor or therapist to develop a complete treatment plan with coping strategies that fit your wants and needs.

You can check with your local community mental health center or your doctor’s office to find out what psychosocial services are available in your area. Your insurance plan may cover some treatment programs. Some providers also offer services on a sliding scale.

The Bottom Line

Schizophrenia can be challenging, but there are many ways to manage it. Psychosocial treatments, along with medication, can help people build skills, stay connected, and live more independently. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, talk to a doctor or mental health provider about finding the right combination of support.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyDepressionTeam is the social network for people with depression and related mental health conditions, like schizophrenia. Here more than 150,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with depression.

Have you tried any psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia? Have you found therapy for schizophrenia helpful? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.