Group psychoeducation of relatives of schizophrenic patients: Two‐year experiences

Abstract

In order to assess the feasibility and acceptability of group psychosocial education for the relatives of schizophrenics in the community, a 2-year project was carried out in tw-0 cities: Jinan and Shanghai, China.The completed sample included 682 cases in the experimental group and 366 cases in the control group.The experimental group received group psychotherapy including 14 lectures and five group discussions with conventional services, and the control group had conventional services only.The annual relapse rate in the experimental group was much lower than that in the control group (17.6 and 23.2%, P < 0.01) and the rate of regular work in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (37.5 and 30.096, P < 0.05).At the end of the second year, the relatives in the experimental group had less care burden, better mental and physical health status and more knowledge of caring for schizophrenics than those in the control group.This approach was well accepted by both mental health workers and relatives ofschizophrenics and the rate of drop-out was 18.4% only during the 2-year period. community service, family intervention, group therapy, psychosocial education, schizophrenia.

Community-based rehabilitation for people with physical and mental disabilities in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…For the ten randomised controlled trials a final judgement was not possible due to the lack of information on one or more of the seven domains of the 'Risk of Bias' tool. Amongst the five non randomised controlled studies, three were considered of moderate quality (Chatterjee et al 2003;Darmawan et al 1992;Zhang et al 1998) and two of high quality (Habibzadeh, Gofranipoor and Ahmadi 2007;Ozdemir et al 2001). The quality of the evidence was hindered in several studies by the small sample size, reducing the power of study to detect a difference between intervention and control groups.…”

“…The programme was delivered at an outpatient department and home visits were made for those who did not attend the sessions. Zhang et al (1998) in Shanghai, China, compared the impact of psychosocial education programme for families of people with schizophrenia in addition to usual care in community mental health services, to usual care. The psychosocial education programme was delivered at the health centre over three years and included 16 one-hour lectures by trained psychiatrists and nurses plus seven group discussions.…”

“…The non-randomised controlled trial by Zhang et al (1998) evaluated a psychosocial education programme for families of people with schizophrenia in addition to usual care in community mental health services, against usual care. After three years, the intervention group showed lower rate of relapse (10.4% versus 15.2%) and hospitalisation (6.4% versus 10.2%), although no statistically significant differences.…”

A Clinical Case of Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: 60 Hospitalizations and 342 Ect Sessions in 36 Years; Lack of Social Support or Undertreatment?

“…Yildirim et al states that after psychoeducation, significant difference was found between the experimental group and control group in terms of family functioning of caregivers and it was determined that medication noncompliance rate reduced from 40.6% to 21.9% 12 . Also, Zhang et al reported that compared with the control group (from 26% reduced to 23%), the experimental group whose family had psychoeducation (from 32% reduced to 18%) showed a reduction in annual relapse rates 13 .Psychosocial treatments may also improve the response to pharmacotherapy by improving medication compliance. This was suggested in a study in which patients received a form of family treatment that also encouraged medication compliance.…”

Schizophrenia and the Developmental Moratorium

“…Studies of treatments of both single-and multi-family therapies, usually involving patients living at home, demonstrate that these approaches can similarly and significantly increase pharmacotherapy compliance. Reported results include symptomatic improvement, improved social and vocational functioning, and lower relapse rates (Zastowny, Lehman, Cole, & Kane, 1992;Zhang, He, & Gittelman, 1998).…”