Effects of a Group Psychoeducation Program on Self-Stigma, Empowerment and Perceived Discrimination of Persons with Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND Self-stigma adversely affects recovery from schizophrenia. Analyses of self stigma reduction programs discovered that few studies have investigated the impact of education about the illness on self-stigma reduction. The objective of this study was to determine whether psychoeducation based on the principles of recovery and empowerment using therapeutic group factors assists in reduction of self-stigma, increased empowerment and reduced perception of discrimination in patients with schizophrenia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS 40 patients participated in psychoeducation group program and were compared with a control group of 40 patients placed on the waiting list for the same program. A Solomon four group design was used to control the influence of the pretest. Rating scales were used to measure internalized stigma, empowerment and perception of discrimination. Two-way analysis of variance was used to determine the main effects and interaction between the treatment and pretest. Simple analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to additionally test effect of treatment onself-stigma, empowerment and perceived discrimination. RESULTS The participants in the psychoeducation group had lower scores on internalized stigma (F(1,76)=8.18; p<0.01) than the patients treated as usual. Analysis also confirmed the same effect with comparing experimental group before and after psychoeducation (F(1,19)=5.52; p<0.05). All participants showed a positive trend for empowerment. Psychoeducation did not influence perception of discrimination. CONCLUSION Group psychoeducation decreased the level of self stigma. This intervention can assist in recovery from schizophrenia.