Study Design The present study entails a single-blind two-level RCT directed at patients with recent onset schizophrenia. Participants will be randomly assigned to intervention condition (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- Social Activation (CBTsa) plus Standard Treatment (ST)), or to the control condition (ST alone). Patients will be stratified by sex, as females with recent onset schizophrenia have a better prognosis and may respond differentially to CBTsa. A baseline test battery will be employed to examine causes of social withdrawal and interaction with treatment outcome. Follow-up assessments (repetition test battery) will take place directly after the intervention period and 6 months post-treatment.