ABSTRACT
The terms schema, schema change and schema modification have commonly been used in cognitive therapy and schemas have been defined in a variety of ways by a variety of authors. Interest in schemas and their change within cognitive therapy has increased over recent years, with the development of cognitive approaches for difficulties held over longer periods and for disorders of a more severe and enduring nature, such as personality disorders and psychotic disorders. Within the field of cognitive therapy for psychosis, such work may prove invaluable, due to the nature of the early experiences which may commonly be found within this client group and the difficulties caused to one’s view of oneself and others by living with such difficulties for a number of years. It is also likely that, as in other Axis I disorders, people’s core beliefs, which underlie vulnerability to psychopathology, may not be amenable to change using methods devised for working with negative automatic thoughts (Mary Shinner, personal communication, 2001). It is also important to be able to employ schema change methods with psychotic patients, as such core beliefs are often reflected in the content of their voices, or are implicated in the development and maintenance of their unusual ideas.
