title: Important components of a short-term family group programme. From the Danish National Multicenter Schizophrenia Project.
abstract: Clinicians from three psychiatric departments have established family groups as a specific intervention for the relatives of patients with first-episode psychosis. The intervention manual is combining the psychoeducational model with psychodynamic understanding and principles. The aim of this study was to identify the special elements of the programme that were the most important to the relatives. A questionnaire was developed for the participants of the groups in order to establish their satisfaction concerning 1) The actual knowledge received; 2) improvement in ability to cooperate with the therapeutic system and other public institutions; 3) the possibility of sharing thoughts, feelings and problems; and 4) dealing with feelings of guilt and shame and the possibility of altering the relationship with the mentally ill relative. Thirty-five relatives of 26 patients filled in the questionnaire consisting of 15 specific items. More than 95% of the relatives appreciated the gained knowledge about schizophrenia as well as the possibility of sharing thoughts and feelings with others. Two specific elements had the highest rating as important factors for the learning condition: 1) to listen to others with similar problems and 2) the group leaders' attitude towards patients and relatives.
authors.affiliation: Department Y Hjørring, Brønderslev Psychiatric Hospital and Unit for Psychiatric Research, Aalborg Psychiatric Hospital, Aage Holmsvej 12, DK-9800, Hjørring, The County of North Jutland, Denmark. asb@psyk.nja.dk
authors.forename: Ann Staerk
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Buksti
authors.forename: Runa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Munkner
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gade
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roved
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tvarnø
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gøtze
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haastrup
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003718:Denmark; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires