Psychotherapy for psychoses: Revolutionary approaches in the focus of the congress!

Psychotherapy for psychoses: Revolutionary approaches in the focus of the congress!

The 4th German Psychotherapy Congress will take place in Berlin from April 7th to 11th, 2025. A central element of the event will be the workshop on psychotherapy for psychotic illnesses, which will be led by Prof. Dr. Moritz Petzold will be headed on April 9, 2025. This workshop addresses an increasingly important topic as psychotherapy for psychosis has changed from a contraindicated to a preferred treatment method in recent years, as evidenced by current guidelines. Psychotherapy is now classified as a first-line procedure along with pharmacotherapy, opening up new therapeutic options for doctors and therapists.

The workshop aims to develop therapist-oriented strategies and clarify the evidence base. Central therapeutic approaches and case studies are presented. The content also covers cross-procedural basics, which offers participants space for questions and discussions. The target group includes both psychotherapists with little experience in treating psychoses and psychology students.

Latest findings on psychotherapy for psychoses

Psychotherapeutic care for people with psychotic illnesses has become increasingly important in recent years. Studies show that psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can aid in the treatment of schizophrenia by using proven therapeutic methods. Nevertheless, experts criticize the fact that one-sided drug treatment often dominates in practice - despite evidence-based guidelines that recommend psychotherapy as an effective treatment. According to a symposium of the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists (BPtK) led by Prof. Dr. Rainer Richter, holistic, sustainable care is necessary. Ärzteblatt reports that the evidence supports cognitive behavioral therapy and family interventions.

Additionally, Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Klingberg, coordinator of the research association for psychotherapy for psychotic illnesses, says that affected people and their relatives often have a high need for help. Preliminary results support the implementation of CBT in the treatment of psychotic illnesses, including calls for adjustments to psychotherapy guidelines to better address core symptoms.

Challenges in practice

Despite the growing knowledge about psychotherapy for psychoses, there are significant challenges in the German healthcare system. Implementation barriers such as inadequate qualifications of psychotherapists and lengthy waiting times significantly limit access to outpatient psychotherapy. Ärzteblatt also explains that access is often difficult for schizophrenia patients and calls for improved cross-sector collaboration.

A quarter of the population shows symptoms of psychotic disorders, which include anxiety, delusional thinking and social isolation. It is therefore crucial to improve the status of psychotherapeutic treatments and achieve a deeper integration of psychotherapy into the treatment approach so that patients receive the necessary support during their illness. The umbrella association of German-speaking psychosis psychotherapy e.V. (DDPP), founded to promote the treatment of people with psychotic illnesses, has also taken up these problems and is calling for better integration of outpatient and inpatient care services.