ABSTRACT
Psychoeducation is a systemic, didactic–psychotherapeutic intervention, aimed to facilitate both an understanding and a personally responsible handling of illness, and a support for those affected by the disorder. Most patients with schizophrenia do not accept the biological concept of the disease, and this may result in abandoning treatment. Many patients feel that a diagnosis of schizophrenia inevitably implies a poor prognosis and poor outcome. They therefore believe that there is no hope for them to recover or to lead a satisfying life. Psychoeducation as a group psychotherapy should be recommended to all patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, especially those who have difficulty accepting the diagnosis, do not adhere to treatment, and are at risk of self-stigmatisation. The therapist should pay special attention to stigma and self-stigma. For psychoeducation as a psychotherapeutic intervention, it is important to obtain informed consent for treatment and to establish a treatment alliance, which is standard procedure for each patient.
