Effects of Psychoeducation on Relapse of Schizophrenic Patients

Jeon, Kyung Soo; Lee, Jong Il

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Psychoeducation is an important factor in the treatment of chronic mental illness that increases drug compliance, then prevents relapse of illness, and brings the patient a progress of social function and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of psychoeducation on relapse of schizophrenic patients.
METHODS
Checklist including 33 items was applied to 97 schizophrenic patients that had been treated at Seoul National Mental Hospital. The subject was divided into two groups. The experimental group consisted of 47 cases that were not treated consistently more than 6 months in outpatient department and required at least 3 time hospital treatment. The control group consisted of 50 cases that were treated consistently in outpatient department at least 3 consecutive years.
RESULTS
The experimental group had significant differences in terms of deficiency of insight such as denial of disease or relapse, subjective experience of drug side effect, whether or not taking drug and they had higher negative attitude to therapist. Many schizophrenic patients reported that they had not been educated thoroughly about disease, drug, and prognosis. 46.8% in experimental group and 46.0% in control group did not recognized necessity of psychoeducation.
CONCLUSION
This study suggested that we need the necessity of psychoeducation in terms of the relationship between the relapse of illness and psychoeducation. However, considering that we did not have an extensive study about psychoeducation and compliance, we need more improved study.