Patient education in schizophrenia: a review.

OBJECTIVE To identify and analyse methodology and results of studies of patient education in schizophrenia. METHOD A literature search was made in the databases Medline, Excerpta Medica, Psychlit and Cinahl. RESULTS Most studies demonstrate that knowledge and compliance can be improved by educational interventions. Compliance seems to be most readily influenced by interventions including behavioural components. A few studies indicate that relapse and symptomatology can be influenced by educational interventions as well. No influence of the duration of interventions was found. Where educability is studied, age, medication and level of symptoms are potential predictors. CONCLUSION Due to methodological limitations and insufficient reporting the results of available studies on patient education in schizophrenia are far from conclusive. The demonstration of the efficacy of patient education in improving knowledge and compliance is most consistent.