ABSTRACT

IT follows from the dimensional analysis described in Chapter 2 that a person suffering from a psychotic illness can simultaneously display neurotic habit patterns. Neurotic behaviour is acquired by a learning process, and the onset of a psychotic illness does not eradicate the person's conditionability, although the psychosis can, of course, modify both the opportunities for learning and even the process of learning (see for example, Rachman, 1963b ). The theme of this book is that neurotic behaviour is learned and can, therefore, be ‘unlearned’. Theoretically, if a psychotic patient also displays neurotic habit patterns it should be possible to eliminate such behaviour by learning therapy. In many, perhaps most, psychotic patients the procedures of behaviour therapy cannot be applied because of the patient's inaccessibility and lack of co-operation. Some attempts are now being made to treat the neurotic behaviour of psychotic patients, and the indications are that at least some patients can be helped by behaviour therapy.