Approaches to patient and family education with affective disorders.

This paper provides an overview of prevalence, types, effects and treatment for affective disorders, with particular emphasis on educational and psychoeducational interventions. It reviews several models of psychoeducation including the approaches used in various programs at the Psychiatric hospital in which the authors work. These approaches are based on the Psychoeducational Model of Family Treatment developed by Dr. Carol Anderson and colleagues. Outcome data from several studies are also presented evidencing the positive impact of these interventions on patients and families.