Relieving the Burden on Caregivers: A Single-Group, 4-Week Pilot Study Evaluating the Impact of a Brief Online Psychoeducation Program (AES) on Burden Reduction and Schizophrenia-Related Knowledge for Informal Caregivers of Individuals with Schizophrenia in German-Speaking Countries

PURPOSE: Informal caregivers of people with schizophrenia often face substantial psychological burden and limited support. Although psychoeducational family interventions are effective and are recommended by international guidelines, their clinical use is limited by systemic and personal barriers. Digital formats offer a flexible and accessible alternative, but the impact of short, self-guided psychoeducation remains underexplored. The study aims to evaluate the feasibility and potential effects of a brief, self-guided online psychoeducation program called Angehörigenentlastung Schizophrenie (AES) for caregivers of people with schizophrenia. METHODS: A single-group, exploratory pilot trial was conducted with informal caregivers (N = 51) from German-speaking countries. Participants completed baseline and post-intervention assessments during a 4-week period of access to AES. Primary outcomes were changes in caregiver burden and schizophrenia-related knowledge. Correlations between outcomes, caregiving duration, and intervention usage were explored. RESULTS: Intent-to-treat analysis revealed a significant reduction in caregiver burden with a small effect size (p = 0.014, d = 0.36) and a significant increase in schizophrenia-related knowledge with a medium effect size (p < .001, d = 0.56). Significant correlations emerged between the number of modules used and knowledge gain (rₛ = 0.382, p = 0.020) as well as total time spent with the AES. CONCLUSION: Preliminary findings suggest that AES may be a resource-light and accessible tool to reduce caregiver burden and enhance schizophrenia-related knowledge among informal caregivers. The potential clinical relevance of the observed knowledge gain requires further investigation within a randomized controlled trial. REGISTRY: DRKS.de, TRN: DRKS00037486, Registration date: 28 July 2025. Retrospectively registered.