Perception of psychotic patients families of a mental health rehabilitation unit

Abstract

In this paper we present the results of a questionnaire in which sixty six families of schizophrenic patients were asked to value the services offered by a psychosocial rehabilitation centre.

Families believe that the treatment the patients receive is beneficial for the progress of the illness and the development of their psychosocial functioning. They value very positively the information and counselling they receive and the consider it helps them endure the burden of the illness. They consider they are listened to and offered easily accessible social and professional support whenever they require it. These results point to the need of maintaining continuous family interventions. In addition to this, families point out the need for a continuous patient follow-up by the mental health services as one of their major concerns, These services should always be sensitive to the possibility of establishing new goals.