Enhancing empowerment for relatives of patients with schizophrenia. Results of a psychoeducational group program under naturalistic conditions
2012
Enhancing empowerment is one of the aims of psychoeducational family interventions but it has never been examined in psychoeducational groups for relatives led by professionals. This study investigated the knowledge gain and the increase of empowerment of psychoeducational group programs for relatives in a naturalistic setting. A total of 54 relatives of persons with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders took part in a psychoeducational group program of 8 sessions. A short questionnaire was used to assess the empowerment before and after the group programs. Knowledge gain was measured with the knowledge of illness about schizophrenia questionnaire (WFB). Among the participants of the psychoeducational groups the level of empowerment was significantly enhanced and the knowledge was significantly increased (p< 0.01). The improvement of empowerment was independent of the knowledge gain and did not correlate with gender, age, education or group attendance. Psychoeducational groups for family members not only reduce the rehospitalization rates of the ill relatives but also have additional positive effects on the family members themselves: better knowledge of the illness and enhanced empowerment. The findings emphasize the importance of psychoeducational groups for the relatives of persons with schizophrenia.
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