Measuring the effectiveness of psychoeducation on adherence, depression, anxiety and stress among patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia. a control trial

Abstract

Despite evidence of the impact of depression and stress on attitudes towards medication in general medical pathology regimens, little is known of the effects of depression and stress on attitudes towards medication in schizophrenia. This study explores the effects of a hope-based psychoeducation on attitudes towards medication, depression, anxiety and stress, and predictors of attitudes towards medication. The participants in the study (n = 29) were randomly allocated to either the psychoeducation group or the control group. Results from the psychoeducation group revealed that attitudes towards medication were significantly improved and anxiety was significantly reduced. Given the small sample, which was recruited from among patients of a day mental health centre, findings should be interpreted tentatively. Being longer in pharmacotherapy, having experienced fewer occurrences of hospitalisation, and being less depressed predicted positivity towards medication. Patients in the control group did not exhibit significant change in any of the studied variables. Findings were interpreted in the light of research on stigma and insight into illness, and add modestly to literature arguing for the importance of patients' retention of hope, empowerment and sense of control over illness. This study proposed that psychoeducation is an appropriate intervention to address a wide range of factors that compound adherence to medication and patients' symptoms, such as patients' interpretations of causal models, their sense of hope and control over the illness, and their insight into illness and self-stigma.

"Why I stay in community psychiatric rehabilitation": a semi-structured survey in persons with schizophrenia

“…Information regarding the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia, as well as the reasons for relapse is important for patients. This is because once they not only understand that the disease causes many problems, but they are also gain deeper insights into drug efficacy, phenomena that consequently promote their adherence to medication as previously reported [ 22 , 30 ]. Apart from the psychiatrist’s guidance, members of the rehabilitation group usually exchange knowledge regarding the effects and side effects of medication.…”

“…Moreover, evaluating the effect also extends from superficial symptoms, cognition ability and skills to deeper levels, such as psychological feelings and quality of life. Results from previous meta-analyses and pilot studies have demonstrated the effects of these rehabilitation efforts, including improvement of patients' symptoms [ 10 , 18 – 20 ], increase in medication compliance [ 21 , 22 ], improvement of life skills [ 23 ], improvement of mood [ 22 ], increases in self-esteem [ 24 , 25 ], and improvement in quality of life [ 10 , 11 , 18 , 24 ] among others. However, most of these studies represent researchers’ perspectives.…”

Effectiveness of psycho-educational intervention on psychological distress and self-esteem among resident elderly: A study from old age homes of Punjab, India

“…This finding is consistent with available literature. Several studies 15,17,[31][32][33][34][35] reported that progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is effective in reducing level of anxiety and depression among the elderly.…”

Hope in a depression therapeutic group: a qualitative case study

“…We highlight the psychoeducational needs that emerged from the group's verbatim, which clearly point to a different direction of group conduct than that which was analysed. Alizioti and Lyrakos proposed that psychoeducation is an appropriate intervention to address a wide range of factors that compound adherence to medication and patients' symptoms, such as patients' interpretations of causal models, their sense of hope and control over the illness, and their insight into illness and self-stigma (22) .…”