Supporting Patients by Family Education in Psychotic Illness: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: A lack of education, resources, and support for family carers of young adults with psychotic illnesses leaves them ill-equipped to support their loved one. Although family support groups exist, few groups offer evidence-based, skills-focused, psychoeducation taught by certified professionals and provided on a public-health level. By equipping families with skills and knowledge, public healthcare harnesses a powerful ally to maintain community stabilization. Aims: The primary study goal is to implement a psychoeducation intervention for family carers supporting young adults with psychosis to reduce family burden and foster community stabilization of service users. Methods: A longitudinal pre-post design will be used to assess the long-term effectiveness of the psychoeducation intervention for family carers supporting a young adult with psychosis on service utilization and functional indexes. Nine expert-reviewed, and family peer-informed psychoeducation modules are administered in 2-hour sessions over 9 weeks to family carers. Conclusion: Presenting the novel approach of an expert-reviewed, peer-informed psychoeducation intervention for family carers, with a focus on knowledge and skill development, the researchers contribute to literature and best practice in patient and family-centered care.