Improving Quality of Informal Care for People With Schizophrenia

Improving Quality of Informal Care for Persons With Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Multicomponent Dyadic Intervention

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a new support program can improve the quality of informal care for people with schizophrenia in rural China. Informal care means the unpaid care given by family members. Quality of care involves both the care that family members give and the care that people with schizophrenia receive. The study also looks at whether the program improves the health and well-being of both groups.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does the support program improve the quality of care that family caregivers provide and that people with schizophrenia receive?
2. Does the program improve the health and well-being of people with schizophrenia and their caregivers?

Researchers will compare three groups to see which works best:

1. A full support program with health education, physical activities, and spiritual activities
2. A program with health education only
3. A control group that receives only routine care

Each person with schizophrenia takes part together with their family caregiver as a pair. Participants will:

1. Take part in an 8-week program in their community
2. Answer survey questions three times: before the program, right after it ends, and 6 months later
3. Some participants will also join interviews to share their experiences

Inclusion Criteria:

• Persons with schizophrenia (PwS): Aged 18 years or older; Diagnosed with schizophrenia by a psychiatrist, with the diagnosis validated using SCID-5; Have not previously participated in any intervention studies; Functional and able to communicate and take part in group activities; Able to provide written informed consent
• Informal caregivers (ICGs): Aged 18 years or older; Provide unpaid care to a person with schizophrenia; Have not previously participated in any intervention studies; Able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Persons with schizophrenia (PwS): Likely to engage in risky behaviors (e.g., suicide or violence), or a history of alcohol or substance abuse; Identified by professionals as unsuitable to participate (e.g., unable to sustain meaningful conversation); Having other schizophrenia spectrum disorders or co-existing neurodevelopmental disorders
• Informal caregivers (ICGs): Likely to engage in risky behaviors (e.g., suicide or violence); Identified by professionals as unsuitable to participate (e.g., having a mental illness or unable to understand instructions)