52 – Working with families of patients with schizophrenia: A rewarding alternative to classical community care in developing countries

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia imposes a burden not only on the patient, but also on families, the health services and society. it is certainly an expensive illness to treat. Methods: The researchers provided an educational package enriched with a section on medication management and compliance to 15 adult patients with schizophrenia and their families over a 2-year duration. A control group comprising 15 adult patients with schizophrenia was directed to receive the classical available care. Patients of both groups were assessed using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ), Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) questionnaires noting employment and relapses. Results: Using RMANOVA the mean scores of patients in the case group onSFQ total and its subscales, PANSSandonDAI at baseline and at the end of the study were compared with the correspondingmean scores of patients in the control group. A highly significant increase in total scores of social functioning (P=0.01) and in the responsibility subscale (P=0.006) was obtained. Also, DAI scores showed a very highly significant increase (F=15.23; df=1; P=0.001) indicating that family education led to significant improvement in social functioning and drug attitude. Again, a significant decrease was detected over time on PANSS Total scale in favor of patients in the case group (P=0.041) mainly due to the significant decrease on Negative subscale (P=0.039). This means that educating relatives resulted in someclinical improvement of patients.Again, regarding employment, results were statistically very highly significant (χ=16.68; df=2; P=0.000). As for number of relapses and hospitalizations, results were very highly significant (P=0.000 and P=0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Any comprehensive, family-oriented management of schizophrenia is in fact an effective alternative to classical community care in developing countries which are likely to face difficulties in funding such a service.