RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of a telehealth psychoeducation intervention for persons with schizophrenia and their family members. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: 30 persons with schizophrenia and 21 family members or other informal support persons. INTERVENTIONS: Web-based psychoeducation program that provided online group therapy and education. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measures for persons with schizophrenia included perceived stress and perceived social support; for family members, they included disease-related distress and perceived social support. RESULTS: At 3 months, participants with schizophrenia in the intervention group reported lower perceived stress (p = .04) and showed a trend for a higher perceived level of social support (p = .06). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate the feasibility and impact of providing telehealth-based psychosocial treatments, including online therapy groups, to persons with schizophrenia and their families.
