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

In order to assess the feasibility and acceptability of group psychosocial education for the relatives of schizophrenics in the community, a 2-year pr oject nas carried out in two cities: Jinan and Shanghai, China. The complet ed sample included 682 cases in the experimental group and 366 casts in the control group. The experimental group received group psychotherapy includi ng 14 lectures and five group discussions with conventional services, and t he 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 gro up was higher than that in the control group (37.5 and 30.0%, P < 0.05). At the end of the second year, the relatives in the experimental group had le ss care burden, better mental and physical health status and more knowledge of caring for schizophrenics than those in the control group. This approac h was well accepted by both mental health workers and relatives of schizoph renics and the rate of drop-out was 18.4% only during the 2-year period.