[Evaluation of the efficacy of psychoeducative groups in schizophrenic patients]

Abstract

One of the main difficulties we find in psychopharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia is medication compliance. Following Kissling, only 40-50% of patients adequately follow prescription directions. This phenomenon becomes one of the major factors of the high relapse rates in schizophrenia. Several studies have been made in recent oriented to improve medication compliance through psychoeducational groups involving patients and their closest relatives. Our results confirm the hypothesis. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.0001) are found between readmission rates in control group (2.32%) and in group of patients participating in psychoeducational groups (0.30%). Significant differences are also found when considering separately first episode patients (1.61% controls vs. 0.04% cases, p < 0.0001) and patients with previous history (3.05% controls vs. 0.61% cases, p < 0.0001).