Excellent results of Open Dialogue therapy for schizophrenia in the United Kingdom

DX'd - Sz/SzA
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The Finnish method

The 28th International Meeting on Dialogical and Reflective Approaches to Psychosis and other Challenging Mental States (IMDRAP) was jointly held by SOAS and UCL in London earlier this month.

Open Dialogue practitioners from around the world took part to hear about the latest research updates from the ODDESSI and APOD studies, as well as discussions on a variety of issues related to dialogical teaching, practice and philosophy.

Among them Professor Russell Razzaque, Clinical Director and Head of Research & Development at NELFT, presented an introduction to Open Dialogue, focusing on the core open dialogue principles:

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The provision of immediate help: first meeting arranged within 24 hours of contact made in a crisis.

A social network perspective: patients, their families, carers & other members of the social network are always invited to the meetings.

Psychological continuity: The same team is responsible for treatment – engaging in network meetings – for the entirety of the treatment process, whether that be a month or a decade.

Dialogism: promoting dialogue is primary and, indeed, the focus of treatment.

This different approach to mental healthcare has had global uptake including in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and the US. NHS trusts have trained over 700 clinicians from the UK and abroad since 2013, with NELFT the first to provide accredited training.

The emphasis on building deep and authentic therapeutic relationships betweenstaff and patients, compared totreatment as usual show positive outcomes.

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Sounds like good stuff

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Yes! It is the method that psychologists apply in Lapland, in Finland.

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A good relationship with another human would definitely help a schizophrenic person. It would raise odds of cortisol control and control rumination of negative attitudes / stigmatisation

I can see how it would help people tbh especially the ones who actually want to care about their life

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From what I understand, in this therapy, if a person begins a delirium flare, a group of professionals and family members go to the home of the person in crisis and listen and talk with them, so they can express themselves to them. It’s as if the dialogue makes the delirium subside. I think therapy is something like that.

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Seems a little invasive, yet at the same time. If done correctly. I can understand how it can be effective - needs a lot of trust

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I think you have to use this intervention early for it to work, like asap after the break. There are also families who just would not respond well to this kind therapy, as sad as that is for the person with schizophrenia. Pretty sure my dad would get violent or storm out if he were confronted with the realities of his life in front of a group of people. I remember seeing articles about this when I first got sick and thinking about how my dad would probably let me be sick forever rather then face the truth.

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