numerical outcomes. We excluded the one found at a later date
(Liu 2007). However, we did not find any other overt bias in the
results and therefore, have left these Chinese trials in.
Agreements and disagreements with other
studies or reviews
This review substantially updates and improves past work (Pekkala
2002). It largely concurs with findings from the previous version
but puts less emphasis on the positive findings, perhaps because
of the new Risk of Bias table function of this version of RevMan.
A U T H O R S ’ C O N C L U S I O N S
Implications for practice
1. For people with schizophrenia
Psychoeducational interventions may initially seem ’off putting’
for the person with schizophrenia, but it can reduce the relapse,
readmission and encourage medication compliance, as well as reduce
the length of hospital stay. It may well have other outcomes
that are, at this point, under-researched.
2. For clinicians
The reduction in relapse and length of hospital stay with psychoeducational
interventions and the increase of medication compliance
rate should make it useful for clinicians as a part of their
treatment programme. More should be known on other important
outcomes and efficient ways of implementation.
3. For managers and policy makers
Not much data exist concerning the economic consequences of
implementing psychoeducation as a routine service. A single study
indicates that the combined costs for hospital and ambulatory
services are comparable for the intervention group and standard
treatment group. Much better work should be undertaken in this
area to explore the true costs of the intervention and variations of
approach, such as use of a brief form of psychoeducation or group
delivery rather than individual to individual.
4. Note: the new 27 citations in the awaiting classification section
of the reviewmay alter the conclusions of the review once assessed.
Implications for research