Effect of needs‑assessment‑based psychoeducation for families of patients with schizophrenia on quality of life of patients and their families: A controlled study
نویسندگان
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4 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan,
5 Department of Psychology, Payamenour University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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doi
چکیده
Introduction: Family psychoeducation is one of the most routine interventions in aschizophrenic patients’ management. We evaluated the effects of a needs‑assessment‑basededucational program in comparison with the current program on global function and quality oflife (QOL) of the patients and their families. Materials and Methods: In this controlled study,60 schizophrenia patients and their families were allocated for a needs‑assessment‑basedpsychoeducation (treatment) and current education (control) programs. The family membersof both the groups participated in 10 sessions of education, within about six months. Thepatients’ global function and QOL were assessed with the global assessment of function (GAF)and the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scales (SQLS), respectively. The families’ QOL wasassessed with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Quality of Life‑BREF (WHOQOL‑BREF).Assessments were done at the beginning and then every six months, for a total of 18 months.Results: Forty‑two cases completed the study. Global function was improved with thetreatment (P = 0.002), but not in the control group (P = 0.601). The patients’ quality of lifein the treatment group showed significant improvement on the psychosocial (P < 0.01)and symptoms/side effects subscale scores (P < 0.01), but not on the energy subscalescore (P > 0.1). There was no significant change in the family’s quality of life in both groups.Conclusions: The family psychoeducational needs assessment may lead to more improvementin schizophrenic patients’ global function and quality of life, but has no significant effect ontheir families’ quality of life. It is recommended that the psychiatric care centers develop theirpsychoeducation profiles based on the needs‑assessment program.
