[Psychoeducation for relatives of schizophrenic patients]

Evidence from different countries shows that a new development on the treatment of schizophrenia is more efficient than the conventional approach based on individual interviews, and antipsychotic drugs. Relapse frequency is reduced by means of family intervention-indeed, one of the unconventional aspects of such a treatment is having patient and his or her family educated on schizophrenia. The origin of ideas that lead to this new approach is discussed, inasmuch as this development integrates both psychopharmacological, and psychological resources for the treatment of schizophrenia.