Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CaCBTp): A Review of Key Features of Cultural Adaptation and Considerations for Psychologists

Cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis is an effective treatment for psychosis. However, psychosis presents differentially according to an individual's cultural context, and it is currently unclear which methods have been used to formulate culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CaCBTp). The current systematic review examines the approaches to CaCBTp that have been evaluated to date and comments on preliminary evidence for the efficacy of CaCBTp. Key features of CaCBTp interventions are discussed in reference to broader cultural adaptations of psychosocial interventions for psychosis and culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy for other disorders. Overall, our results identified 12 studies and highlighted five overarching themes of cultural adaptation that clinicians should integrate into the design of future CaCBTp interventions, including family members in treatment, targeting stigma, relying on spiritual leaders, using multifaceted models of mental health, and ensuring adequate language match. The results of this review also highlight the paucity of literature in global CaCBTp interventions, as only 10 studies examining CaCBTp interventions were found. Public Significance Statement<br /> The current article is a review of culturally adapted approaches to cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBTp), a widely recommended and efficacious treatment for psychosis. A long-documented shortcoming of cognitive behavioral therapy is its roots in White Westernized principles that are often not well-suited for use in culturally diverse groups of people(s). Based on the extant literature, the authors provide recommendations for future directions for psychologists and researchers interested in advancing culturally adapted CBTp.