The effectiveness of illness management and recovery program in patients with schizophrenia

This study was conducted to determine the effect of the illness management and recovery program in patients with schizophrenia.

This study was conducted using a pretest, posttest and follow up experimental design with randomized controlled. The sample of this study consisted of patients with schizophrenia (n = 50). The patients were assigned to intervention (n = 25) and control (n = 25) groups using the randomisation method. The intervention group consisted of 10 modules and 20 sessions of Illness Management and Recovery Program, while in the control group, a face-to-face interview. Data were collected by the Illness Management and Recovery Scale-Patient Form (IMRS-P) and Social Functioning Scale-Patient Form (SFS-P).

There were significant differences in posttest and 1-month follow-up IMRS-P points between the intervention and control groups. There was no significant difference in post-test and 1-month follow-up SFS-P total points between the intervention and control groups. There were only significant differences for the pro-social activities' subscale of SFS-P.

The Illness Management and Recovery Program have a positive effect on illness management and social functionality in patients with schizophrenia. In the light of this study, it was suggested that this structured program should be used by mental health and psychiatric nurses.