The Application of Cognitive Therapy for Command Hallucinations

It has become increasingly recognized that cognitive therapy (CT) is an effective treatment for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia yet there are few cognitive therapists in North America who are specialized to work with this patient population. There is a need for further dissemination of CT for schizophrenia in order to increase its availability. A first step in dissemination is to become familiar with the cognitive theory and therapy model, as applied to schizophrenia. The purpose of the present paper is to demonstrate the applicability of CT for psychosis, using the example of command hallucinations. First, we summarize the cognitive theory of command hallucinations and present the stages of CT, using the example of “Joe,” a 24-year-old male with schizophrenia. The paper concludes with practical suggestions of how to enhance the effectiveness of CT for command hallucinations.