title: Participants' perceived benefits of family intervention following a first episode of psychosis: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the perceived benefits for patients and family members of psychoeducational family intervention following a first episode of psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative exploratory study using data from interviews with 12 patients and 14 family members who participated in a psychoeducational multi- or single-family treatment programme. Semi-structured interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim with slight modifications, after which they were analysed by systematic text condensation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients and family members reported benefits that could be classified in five categories: (i) developing insight and acceptance requires understanding of the fact that the patient has an illness, and recognizing the need for support; (ii) recognizing warning signs requires an understanding of early signs of deterioration in the patient; (iii) improving communication skills is linked to new understanding and better communication both within the family and in groups; (iv) Learning to plan and solve problems requires the ability to solve problems in new ways; (v) becoming more independent requires patients to take responsibility for their own life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests that developing insight and acceptance, learning about warning signs, improving communications skills, learning to plan and solve problems, and becoming more independent are perceived as benefits of a psychoeducational family intervention.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Competence for Early Intervention in Psychosis, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Liv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Frich
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Mental Health, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|Institute of Clinical Research and Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Svein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friis
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Vestre Viken Hospital Thrust, Lier, Norway.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Norheim
authors.affiliation: Centre of Competence for Early Intervention in Psychosis, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|Institute of Clinical Research and Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jan Ivar
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Røssberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: early intervention; family work; psychosis; qualitative research