While the treatment of positive symptoms of patients with schizophrenic 
psychosis appeared until recently to be solely pharmacotherapeutic, new research 
findings show the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy (CBT) on 
positive symptoms in chronic psychotic patients. In addition, the effectiveness 
even in acute and recent-onset psychosis could be shown in some studies. The 
effects of CBT and standard care in psychosis compared to standard care alone 
and to other psychosocial interventions plus standard care are reviewed. The 
results of several studies and one meta-analysis show that CBT in schizophrenia 
patients has a direct effect on psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations as 
well as on relapse prevention. In routine settings,however,CBT has until now 
only rarely been delivered to these patients. In so-called large pragmatic 
trials, which might be subsumed as phase IIIb studies, the effects are tested. 
The therapeutic approach with the components of CBT for psychosis are described: 
building a therapeutic relationship, cognitive-behavioural coping strategies, 
developing an understanding of the experience of psychosis,working on 
hallucinations and delusions, addressing negative self-evaluations, anxiety, and 
depression,managing risk of relapse and social disability. Further clinical 
implications are described (capability of learning the therapeutic strategies, 
deliverability in broader clinical settings, acceptability by patients, 
combination with atypical neuroleptic drugs,and treatment of choice in risk 
populations).