PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC AND SOCIOTHERAPEUTIC APPROACHES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

A critical review is given of modern psychotherapeutic and sociotherapeutic approaches used with children and adolescents with schizophrenic disorders. Therapeutic strategies are evaluated within the framework of emprical data on biological and psychosocial facets of schizophrenia. Major treatment goals are discussed that go beyond differences in psychotherapeutic methodology, e.g. attainment of biographical continuity, improvement of strategies for social interaction and conflict resolution, stabilization of self-structures, mastery of age-dependent developmental tasks and, finally, coordination of different therapeutic interventions. It is stressed that psychotherapy and sociotherapy are equally important in the treatment of children and adolescents with schizophrenia.