The Integral Role of Psychoeducation in Clinical Care

Abstract

Psychoeducation can be a powerful tool to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Incorporated into clinical care, it can support individual autonomy, promote empowerment and engagement in treatment, strengthen therapeutic alliance, increase awareness of mental illness, decrease stigma, and improve health care related outcomes. Although widely recognized as an important component of treatment, psychoeducation is often a nebulous concept with few consolidated guidelines for practice. This article defines psychoeducation in terms of its basic components, rationale and goals, and use as a discrete medical intervention in its own right. The evidence base that supports the efficacy of psychoeducation in various settings is examined. Recommendations and guidelines for the application of psychoeducation in daily clinical practice are also discussed. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2016;46(5):286–292.]

Living with bipolar disorder in Chile: A qualitative study

“…Clients are the ones who live with the disease, so they must develop copying strategies, which have to be recognized and validated by mental health nurses. In addition, Cho et al () emphasize that information about medication is vital in order to maintain the therapeutic alliance required for guiding clients to recovery. An informed client is more likely to adhere to their lifelong treatment.…”

“…For individual interventions, examining self‐stigma levels could inform strategies to manage processes that lead to it and that can be modified (Gilkes et al ). According to Hantzi et al (), the best way to counteract negative stigmatizing attitudes is to develop and implement interventions aiming at reducing help‐seeking stigma, for instance, by comparing with other long‐term conditions commonly accepted such as diabetes and hypertension (Cho et al ), which may lead to an increase in acceptance. Besides, Mughal () supports the idea that the government and medical community should lead workshops and seminars regularly to educate the general population about mental health.…”