Psycho-education and family treatment related to the phase of a psychotic disorder.
There has been a replicated finding that psycho-educational family programs, in combination with medication management, can make a substantial contribution to preventing a relapse in psychotic patients. Different formats have been suggested for implementing these programs (relatives-only groups, single family units, multiple family groups). We have reviewed the appropriateness and the efficacy of these formats for different phases of a specific psychotic episode or in the history of the disorder. The data reviewed indicate that psycho-educational programs focusing on the individual family unit are particularly effective for first or recent-onset schizophrenic patients, particularly during the stabilization phase of treatment. Data on groups for relatives only or multiple-family groups suggest greater effectiveness during later phases of treatment (maintenance) and with more chronic patients.