Objectives: This study tested the effectiveness of a family psychoeducation group program over a 12-month period for families of Chinese patients in Hong Kong with schizophrenia. The psychoeducation program is a needs-based group intervention that addresses the perceptions, knowledge, and skills of families in caring for relatives with schizophrenia.
Methods: A controlled trial was conducted with 84 family members. Patient and family variables were measured at recruitment and at one week and 12 months after completion of the intervention.
Results: Multivariate analyses of variance showed that participants in the psychoeducation group reported greater improvements in families' and patients' functioning, families' burden of care, and the number and length of patients' rehospitalizations over the 12-month follow-up period, compared with the standard care group.
Conclusions: These findings support the effectiveness of the family psychoeducation group program in improving the psychosocial health and functioning of Chinese patients with schizophrenia and their families.