Integrating Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy Into Medication Management Visits: Feasibility and Acceptability

Provision of psychotherapy during medication management checks has decreased, despite its benefits. The authors evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of integrating recovery-oriented cognitive therapy (CT-R) into psychiatric medication management visits for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders through the Increasing Medication Check Participation Through Applying CT-R (IMPACT) program. All participants who started IMPACT (N=22) completed the 12-month treatment. Study psychiatrists provided elements of CT-R in 74% of sessions. Patients had significant improvements in overall symptoms (Cohen's d=0.83) and social functioning (Cohen's d=0.88) and a moderate improvement in beliefs about recovery. This study provides preliminary evidence that IMPACT is an acceptable and feasible treatment for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. A randomized controlled trial of IMPACT appears to be warranted.