Simultaneous patient/family education regarding schizophrenia: the Nebraska model

A course entitled "How to Enter the World of Schizophrenia ... a Family Educational Perspective" was developed to simultaneously educate individuals with schizophrenia and their families regarding the psychiatric diagnosis, treatment, and management of schizophrenia. The course was developed and implemented by psychiatric-mental health nursing clinical specialists utilizing an eclectic approach. The complexity of this endeavor required the incorporation of five theoretical models to effect the delivery of health education in a multigeneration family situation complicated with a serious mental illness. It was essential that the leaders possess working knowledge of the aforementioned theories as well as advanced knowledge of the medical diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia to include neuroanatomy, physiology, and biochemistry; therapeutic nutrition; and psychopharmacology. Equally important were the leaders' abilities to conduct groups using the style of coleadership, as each class averaged 30 to 50 people, including individuals with schizophrenia, siblings, parents, and grandparents, which represented segments of families or the entire family. The leaders must display open, honest communication techniques while developing self-esteem and self-worth among the family members. Use of here-and-now material facilitates self-disclosure of emotionally painful material and leaders role-model problem-solving techniques, which aid families in coping with problems occurring with serious mental illness. The class has been taught 12 times since 1985 to over 500 persons.