Effects of Psychoeducation Program on Insight and Treatment Attitudes in Patients with Schizophrenia, Schizophreniform Disorder, and Schizoaffective Disorder

Kim, Jeong Eun; Moon, Jung Joon; Kim, Min Hyo; Kim, Woo Jin; Park, Min Kyeong; Song, Tae Hong; Shim, Joo Cheol

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to confirm effectiveness of psychoeducation program on insight and treatment attitudes in patients with schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder and schizoaffective disorder.
METHODS
Seventy eight psychotic patients who were diagnosed as schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, and schizoaffective disorder by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition Text Revision (DSM-IV TR) were included. Subjects who decline more than 30% compared with baseline in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores participated in psychoeducation program. Insight and Treatment Attitudes Questionnaire (ITAQ) and Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) were assessed at pre-psychoeducation, post-psychoeducation and 2 months after discharge to estimate insight and treatment attitudes.
RESULTS
There were significant improvement in ITAQ and DAI scores at post-psychoeducation and 2 months after discharge. Increase in DAI scores related with high ITAQ scores at post-psychoeducation. Small changes in PANSS scores and ITAQ scores at post-psychoeducation had positive relationship. Subjects of late onset of illness and female took better ITAQ and DAI scores after psychoeducation.
CONCLUSION
This study showed that psychoeducation program would be effective for insight and treatment attitudes in patients with schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, and schizoaffective disorder.