The families of chronic mentally ill patients have very important role in early diangosis, early treatment, and rehabilitation of patients. They are exposed to danger of health problems, economic burdens, psychosocial confilicts. Supportive
relationship
of family and patient is essential because of the high recurrence rate chronic mental disorders. In recent years, family psychoeducational approach has increasing significance as treatment model of families of mentally ill patients.
Before the biological advance of psychiatry, it was dominant view dominant view that the faimilies had major causes of mental disorders. After the development of community mental heath as well as biological treatments, the understanding of
familial
role
have changed. Recently, familial expressed emotion is considered that it has significant connections with patients recurrence, but compare with organic causes, their order is not definite.
Family psychoeducation offer families informations about causes, symptoms, treatments, course, and rehabilitations of mental disorders. Several widely accepted psychoeducation models are Psychoeducational Family Therapy model (Anderson, Hogarty),
Behavioral Family Management treatment model(Falloon), and Social Intervention model(Leff, Vaughn). As the result of famuly psychoeducations, there are many reports that the knowledge about mental disorder, emotionally supported feeling of
families
were
increased and the recurrence rate of patients was decreased.
Yong-in Mental Hospital has conducted family psychoeducation from early nineties. For the effective education, small group session, participation of patients with families, and follow-up reeducation could be considered.
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