Effects of a patient education program in the treatment of schizophrenia

Two groups of schizophrenic patients were compared to determine the effects of educating patients about schizophrenia and its treatment. One group completed a three-week educational program while the other was involved in the usual ward activities. Comparison of the groups' pretest and posttest scores on three instruments (the Experiential World Inventory, the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and the Knowledge of Illness and Resources Inventory) revealed the experimental group had a significant increase in knowledge of the illness and a significant decrease in the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. No significant difference was found between the groups in change in the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. The results suggest that severely psychiatrically ill patients can learn and retain information and that educating chronic patients about their illness can help improve their functioning.