What is patient psychoeducation and who is it for?
What is patient psychoeducation and who is it for?
Psychoeducation is a didactic and psychotherapeutic intervention that aims to inform the patient and his or her relatives about the psychiatric disorder he or she is experiencing and how to cope with it.
It is not just a simple transmission of information, but also a pedagogical method in its own right that aims to clarify the patient’s identity and help him or her to change his or her attitude and behaviour.
Psychoeducation is recommended in the prevention of risks and relapses of chronic pathologies. It is an inexpensive method, which has proven its effectiveness in improving the quality of life of patients.
Psychoeducation trains patients with chronic illnesses, as well as their entourage, in order to give them the means to become actors in their care process. Through therapeutic education, the patient becomes capable of adopting the right behaviours to cope with his or her illness or disorder.
Psychoeducation can be based in particular on supports such as brochures or booklets distributed during consultations in the doctor’s office. They enable patients and their relatives to obtain quick and concise information about an illness.
Psychoeducational actions have proven to be effective, particularly in the day-to-day management of chronic diseases. They enable patients to become once again a player in their own care. This type of support does not replace but complements other therapies and modes of intervention. They are also not intended to facilitate practices such as self-diagnosis or self-medication (which are always dangerous).