Psychiatria pre prax 4/2002

Psychoeducative program Prelapse

The article describes a psychoeducative program for patients and their relatives suffering from schizophrenia. Psychoeducation is part of a complex therapy of psychosis. Its aim is to convey understandable information on the cause and signs of the disease and some possibilities for its treatment. This complex education program leads to a better understanding of a disease and a better compliance of the patient. This results in fewer relapses and rehospitalizations and to an improvement in the quality of life of the patients. A normalization of communication in the family usually ensues. One part of the Prelapse program deals with recommendations for physicians regarding long-term antipsychotic medication for the prevention of disease recurrence. The program gives good instructions on how to provide systematic psychoeducation, however, several aspects of the program may require modification.

Keywords: schizophrenia, education, Prelapse.