Family Psychoeducation Program Research Articles

Intervenciones familiares en el tratamiento de los pacientes con esquizofrenia: aproximaciones recientes

After mentioning the basic assumptions underlying traditional models of family therapy which have raised serious criticism, new models are reviewed which overcome these limitations. The new models on family intervention share two characteristics. They view relatives as natural allies in the process of rehabilitation of the patient and rely on highly structured therapeutic strategies. Four such strategies are briefly described and the evidence supporting their efficiency reviewed: Goldstein's crisis orieted family therapy, the psychosocial intervention package developed by Leff and cols., Falloon's behavioral family therapy and the family psychoeducation pro gram by Anderson and cols. Their efficiency is analyzed in terms of the observed decrement in relapse rates as well as other benefits for both patient and relatives. The general principies underliying these therapeutic approaches are underlined. Finally, an analysis is attemted regarding some observed defficiencies, which further studies should help solve in order to arrive at more solid condusions on the efficiency of diese new therapeutic approaches. Agradecimientos: Agradecemos las valiosas criticas y sugerencias realizadas por la Dra. Vizcarro en la elaboracion del presente articulo.

Designing a Family Psychoeducation Program to Meet Community Needs: The NYU-Bellevue Project

For better or worse, family members frequently become the primary caretakers of schizophrenic patients after discharge. Usually this occurs without the family's receiving accurate information about the illness, specialized training, or professional support. Four model psychoeducation programs, which provide families with information, skills training, and support, have demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing relapse in schizophrenia beyond that attainable by drug treatment alone [1-4]. Psychoeducation programs thus make maximal use of the patient's family as an important resource in the management of schizophrenic patients in the community. Particularly in the current era of brief hospitalizations, in which patients are discharged before they have fully recovered, psychoeducation can initiate a collaborative relationship between professionals and families to ensure continuity of care and to provide for the patient's long-term recovery. Despite the efficacy of psychoeducation, documented by well-controlled treatment-outcome studies, local institutions have been very slow to implement such programs. Three constraints that can impede the adoption of any of the standard psychoeducation programs are: (a) institutional factors, ( b ) demographic characteristics of the local