BACKGROUND:

Little is known about the medium-term durability of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in a community sample of people with schizophrenia.

AIMS:

To investigate whether brief CBT produces clinically important outcomes in relation to recovery, symptom burden and readmission to hospital in people with schizophrenia at 1-year follow-up.

METHOD:

Participants (336 of 422 randomised at baseline) were followed up at a mean of 388 days (s.d. = 53) by raters masked to treatment allocation (CBT or usual care).

RESULTS:

At 1-year follow-up, participants who received CBT had significantly more insight (P = 0.021) and significantly fewer negative symptoms (P = 0.002). Brief therapy protected against depression with improving insight and against relapse; significantly reduced time spent in hospital for those who did relapse and delayed time to admission. It did not improve psychotic symptoms or occupational recovery, nor have a lasting effect on overall symptoms or depression at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS:

Mental health nurses should be trained in brief CBT for schizophrenia to supplement case management, family interventions and expert therapy for treatment resistance.