title: [Discharge letters addressed to patients--confidence enhancement and psychoeducation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are only some reports about discharge letters addressed to patients. By a case report benefits and potential of letters to patients should be shown.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presented case report describes the hospital stay of a 19 year old patient suffering from schizophrenia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The case report indicates that letters to patients provide a useful source of information and can help the patient to understand the nature of his illness. Furthermore, letters to patients are important to increase confidence and can lead to an open atmosphere in the therapeutic process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Letters to patients enhance the role of patients as self-responsible partners in health care. In single cases a personal addressed letter to the patient is feasible in psychiatric hospitals despite shortness of time.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie der Universität am Bezirksklinikum Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg. hermann.spiessl@medbo.de
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spiessl
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rothbauer
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cording
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008501:Medical Records, Problem-Oriented; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*