Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric disorder, or group of disorders, characterized by psychotic symptoms that impair a person's perception, thoughts, affect, and behavior. a person (NICE, 2009). Tai and Turkington (2009) define cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an evidence-based talking therapy that attempts cognitive and behavioral change based on individualized formulation of personal history, problems, and vision of a client's world. CBT as a treatment for schizophrenia can be understood within a broader framework of CBT applied to a range of mental disorders such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression (Tai and Turkington , 2009). CBT is based on behavioral principles that emphasize clear relationships between cognition, physiology, and emotion (Beck, 1952). This trial will analyze CBT as a therapy for individuals with schizophrenia. It will briefly discuss the historical background and development of CBT, goals and principles, evidence of the therapy's strengths and weaknesses. It will also discuss implications for mental health nursing practice. This essay focuses on the intervention and psychosocial nature which will be brought together in the conclusion. According to Gamble and Brennan (2000), the effectiveness of schizophrenia medications in relieving patients of psychotic symptoms is limited. Although patients receive adequate medication, some have received little or no benefit and almost half still have psychotic symptoms. They are also more likely to experience a relapse (Gamble & Brennan, 2000). Furthermore, Valmaggia et al. (2005) found that 50% of patients who fully adhere to an antipsychotic medication regimen still have positive... middle of article ......zophrenia: 12-month follow-up. Br. J Psychiatry; 174: 500–504 Turkington, D, Kingdon, D and Rathod, S (2006), 'Results of an effectiveness trial of cognitive behavioral intervention by mental health nurses in schizophrenia', British Journal of Psychiatry, 11, 1, pp. 36-40Turkington D, Dudley R, Warman DM and Beck AT (2006) Cognitive behavioral therapy for schizophrenia: a focused review, Spring 2006; 4: 223 - 233. Valmaggia LR, van der Gaag M, Tarrier N, Pijnenborg M, Slooff CJ. (2005) Cognitive behavioral therapy for refractory psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia resistant to atypical antipsychotic medications The British Journal of Psychiatry (2005) 186:324-330 Wykes T, Steel C, Everitt B and Tarrier N (2008) Cognitive behavioral therapy for schizophrenia: Effect sizes, clinical models and methodological rigor Schizophrenia Bulletin 34(3): 523-537