The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-time effects of group psychoeducation program on inpa-tients with schizophrenia on an acute care unit in a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo,Japan. The subjects were 105 inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia;71 completed the four sessions of the psychoeducation program.The program consisted of four sessions for two weeks which designed to encour-age patients with various diagnoses to discuss their admission to hospital,their illnesses,medication,and coping with problems relating to taking medication and was offered to groups of 5 to 8.Two measures were used in semistructured interviews to assess program effects Medication and Treatment Adherence (MTA) and Schedule for Assessment of Insight Japanese version (SAI- J).In addition,neuroleptic dosage,Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale assessment and demographic data were collected at baseline. Scores on the two outcome measures were significantly improved for the program participants. Awareness of the necessity of medication and treatment increased.An effect of the psychoeducation group program may have been to accelerate or focus participants ' understandings and skills for self- management after hospitalization. Further research is needed to develop therapeutic interventions that improve patients' empowerment and inspires heir desire for recovery.
Eriko Mizuno (Thu,) studied this question.