"(...) Sometimes I am doubtful about myself, when I don't feel well" - Theimpact of an ambulatory psychoeducative group programme from the subjective perspective of the patients with schizophrenia

Purpose: Aim of the study is an analysis of the patients' evaluation of the impact of a psychoedukative group program for patients with schizophrenia in outpatient treatment, which was part of the project ,,lntegrated Treatme nt of Schizophrenia". Method: Problem-focussed interviews were carried out with 30 randomly selected participants of the psychoeducative group program me. Interviews were fully transcribed and analysed by means of qualitative content analysis. Results: With the exception of two persons all patients m ade a very positive assessment of their participation at the psychoeducativ e programme. The quality of the information received and the possibilities of exchanging experiences with other patients during the group sessions wer e mentioned by most of the participants as reasons for this positive assess ment. Although only few patients reported on changes of their illness behav iour due as a result of psychoeducation, most of them underlined that that the increase of their illness-related wisdom as well as the exchange of ill ness experiences with other patients helped them to cope somewhat better wi th their illness. Conclusion: Psychoeducative group programmes contribute t o the improvement of patients quality of life even if they have no measurab le impact on illness behaviour or compliance. Hence, such group programmes should be integrated into outpatient services even if there is no evidence of a direct impact on relapse rates or cost savings.