Relapse Management Group Psychoeducation Program

Effects of Relapse Management Group Psychoeducation Program Applied to Schizophrenia Patients on Relapse Management and Functional Recovery

This study was planned to be conducted between February and March 2026, with a total of 60 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia who met the inclusion criteria and were followed at the community mental health center in the Psychiatry Building of Ankara Etlik City Hospital. 30 patients were in the experimental group and 30 were in the control group.

Schizophrenia patients in the experimental and control group will complete the Data Collection Form before (pretest) and immediately after (posttest) the relapse management group psychoeducation program. The researchers will implement the relapse management group psychoeducation program with schizophrenia patients being followed at the community mental health center between February and March 2026. The program will include a total of four 60 minute group psychoeducation sessions. The program will cover the symptoms of schizophrenia, the definition of functioning in schizophrenia, the relationship between relapse and functioning in schizophrenia, how to manage relapse in schizophrenia, and potential interventions. The pretest will be administered before the program, and the posttest will be administered four weeks after the sessions. Schizophrenia patients in the control group will not receive the relapse management group psychoeducation program and will continue their daily care at the center. Schizophrenia patients in the control group will complete a Data Collection Form at the same time (pretest, posttest) as the experimental group.

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 18 and over
• Able to speak and understand Turkish
• Written consent obtained
• Being a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia who is being monitored at the relevant institution during the study period
• Being in remission Exclusion Criteria
• Those who have previously received or are currently receiving psychoeducation on relapse management
• Those who do not attend community mental health center follow-ups regularly
• Those with mental retardation that may prevent participation in psychoeducation
• Those in the relapse phase of the disease