One purpose of cognitive-behaviour therapy is to provide patients with a ‘psychological model’ of their illness; this would enable them to become aware of, and thereby gain insight into the ways that the symptoms and behavioural deviances they exhibit, and the circumstances of the onset of illness are actually related to their previous experience and social learning (for overview see Hawton et al, 1989). This concept provides a basis for gaining greater insight into special therapeutic interventions, and should help patients to develop their own lifetime methods of coping with problems.