Designing new psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia.

Full Abstract

Schizophrenia is a disease characterized by cognitive, psychophysiological, and interpersonal deficits that result in a marked vulnerability to stress (Dawson and Neuchterlein 1984; Nuechterlein 1977; Strauss et al. 1987). Episodes of illness occur in vulnerable individuals who experience stressful life events (G. W. Brown and Rutter 1966; Lukoff et al. 1984) or stressful interactions with family members (G. W. Brown et al. 1972; Imber Mintz et al. 1987; Leff and Vaughn 1985). Similarly, overstimulating therapeutic environments have been shown to exacerbate psychosis (Drake and Sederer 1986; Liberman 1982; Linn et al. 1980; Van Putten 1976). A full understanding of disease-specific deficits resulting from stress and vulnerability is necessary for developing psychosocial treatment programs that augment pharmacotherapies in significantly ameliorating the symptoms and disabilities of schizophrenia.

Author information

Author/s: Liberman, R P (RP); Corrigan, P W (PW);

Affiliation: Camarillo/UCLA Clinical Research Center for Schizophrenia and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, West Los Angeles VA Medical Center 90073.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Psychiatry (Psychiatry), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1993-Aug; vol 56 (issue 3) : pp 238-49; discussion 250-3

Dates: Created 1993/11/04; Completed 1993/11/04; Revised 2005/11/16;

PMID: 8416005, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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