25 Years of Breakthroughs: 'Father of CBT' Expands Scope of Treatment to Schizophrenia

NARSAD distinguished Investigator Grantee, Aaron T. Beck, the 'Father of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)’ proved that it can be used to help treat the 'negative' symptoms of schizophrenia. CBT was invented by Beck in the 1960s as a method of talk therapy aimed at solving problems related to dysfunctional emotional behaviors and cognitions - primarily associated with depression and other mood disorders. Eventually it was used to help treat anxiety disorders as well. In 2011, Dr. Beck furthered the scope of its potential and discovered that CBT can treat the symptoms of schizophrenia that have been considered untreatable, such as emotional flatness, listlessness and isolation.

Dr. Beck’s NARSAD Grant work was described in the Foundation’s 2010 Breakthroughs publication

Dr. Beck's research was featured in The Quarterly, Fall 2011 issue

In October, 2011 the results of this research were presented in a great NY Times article

Dr. Beck gives an excellent interview about CBT on the Politics of Well-Being Blog

Recovery Story:
One Young Man’s Rocky Road to Recovery - This hopeful story is about a college student who has been living with multiple mental illnesses throughout most of his life and now finds relief from symptoms due to combination therapy of medication and CBT.