[A randomized controlled study on the impact of pharmacoeducation on a French patient population with schizophrenic...

To evaluate the impact of a pharmacoeducation module both on hospital stay and on clinical and functional state in a French patient population with schizophrenic and schizoaffective disorders.

After inclusion, 82 patients were randomly distributed in 2 groups, one group receiving the pharmacoeducation module and the other to be a control group. Data on the number of hospital stays and emergency visits, and the type of medication received, were compiled. Patients were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Clinical Global Impression Scale, Barnes Akathisia Scale, Simpson-Angus Scale, Quality of Life Scale, and Global Assessment of Functioning; data were gathered at baseline, then each year for 2 years.

Among the 72 analyzed patients, those receiving pharmacoeducation had significantly lower total hospital stays, forced hospital stays, and emergency visits, compared with the control group patients. They also had more improvement in their symptomatology, autonomy, and quality of life. They presented less akathisia and less medication intake.

Pharmacoeducation can reduce the hospital stays of patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders, as well as improve their clinical and functional state, likely through better compliance.