Objective: To evaluate cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis (CBTp) delivered by non-expert therapists, using CBT relevant measures.
Method: Participants (N = 74) were randomised into immediate therapy or waiting list control groups. The therapy group was offered 6 months of therapy and followed up 3 months later. The waiting list group received therapy after waiting 9 months (becoming the delayed therapy group).
Results: Depression improved in the combined therapy group at both the end of therapy and follow-up. Other significant effects were found in only one of the two therapy groups (positive symptoms; cognitive flexibility; uncontrollability of thoughts) or one of the two time points (end of therapy: general symptoms, anxiety, suicidal ideation, social functioning, resistance to voices; follow-up: power beliefs about voices, negative symptoms). There was no difference in costs between the groups.
Conclusion: The only robust improvement was in depression. Nevertheless, there were further encouraging but modest improvements in both emotional and cognitive variables, in addition to psychotic symptoms.