A comparison of short-term psychoeducational and support groups for relatives coping with chronic schizophrenia

The differences between two short-term, multifamily group intervention programs for relatives of hospitalized chronic schizophrenics were examined in a nonequivalent comparison group design. The psychoeducational intervention consisted of interactive instructional activities. The support group intervention consisted of nonstructured discussions. Analysis of covariance on adjusted posttest means indicated a differential treatment effect for depression and satisfaction for the psychoeducational group. The findings suggest that the process of a support group may not be compatible with a short time frame.