title: Effect of needs-assessment-based psychoeducation for families of patients with schizophrenia on quality of life of patients and their families: A controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Family psychoeducation is one of the most routine interventions in a schizophrenic patients' management. We evaluated the effects of a needs-assessment-based educational program in comparison with the current program on global function and quality of life (QOL) of the patients and their families.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this controlled study, 60 schizophrenia patients and their families were allocated for a needs-assessment-based psychoeducation (treatment) and current education (control) programs. The family members of both the groups participated in 10 sessions of education, within about six months. The patients' global function and QOL were assessed with the global assessment of function (GAF) and the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scales (SQLS), respectively. The families' QOL was assessed with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Assessments were done at the beginning and then every six months, for a total of 18 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two cases completed the study. Global function was improved with the treatment (P = 0.002), but not in the control group (P = 0.601). The patients' quality of life in the treatment group showed significant improvement on the psychosocial (P < 0.01) and symptoms/side effects subscale scores (P < 0.01), but not on the energy subscale score (P > 0.1). There was no significant change in the family's quality of life in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The family psychoeducational needs assessment may lead to more improvement in schizophrenic patients' global function and quality of life, but has no significant effect on their families' quality of life. It is recommended that the psychiatric care centers develop their psychoeducation profiles based on the needs-assessment program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Omranifard
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yari
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholam Reza
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Kheirabadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Maracy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Payamenour University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadri
keywords: Family; needs-assessment; psychoeducation; quality of life; schizophrenia