Psychoeducation

Psychoeducation is a specific form of education aimed at helping people who suffer from a psychological problem (or other problems such as disabilities, dementia or neurodegenerative diseases) and/or their families, in order to provide correct informations about the diagnosis (nature, characteristics and course, prognosis, management and treatment). 

 

Psychoeducation responds to the need of those who suffer, to know more about their disorder, to know the symptoms, causes, side effects of medications, but also to the need of learning how you can intervene, what strategies to use, how you can reduce effects and complications.

 

Psychoeducation aims to "normalize" the discomfort by reassuring those concerned about their condition: you are not alone in suffering and you are not alone in struggling, also debunking the various prejudices. Equally important in the intervention of psychoeducation is to provide useful information for the management of the problem and for the prevention or mitigation of duration, consequences and relapse.

 

Psychoeducation offers to the family members the opportunity to find a personal space where they can be heard, express their difficulties in managing the disease and their emotional experiences about their role as caregivers. Family members and caregivers are given detailed and accurate information about the disorder, how to manage it and taught effective ways of communication, thus increasing the ability to cope with stress.

It is also important to promote the involvement of family associations and activate the support of local services. 

 

Finally, research has shown that psycho-educational interventions are also fundamental for the prevention.

For example, informing and raising awareness about risk and protective factors, causes and consequences of dysfunctional or maladaptive behaviors, risk behaviors, or the best strategies to adopt improve both psychological well-being and lifestyle.

 

For example: 

 

• Informing and raising awareness by increasing knowledge and awareness about a specific issue (E.g., Risk behaviors, psychological distress, psychological or neurological disorder, physical illness (acute or chronic), stressful and painful life events). 

• Parent Education/Training

• Prevention of behavioral disorders in children 

• Prevention of risky behaviors in adolescents 

• Prevention of eating disorders

• Promotion of psychological and psychosocial well-being 

• Substance use and risk prevention 

• Promotion and acquisition of healthy lifestyles

• Promotion and enhancement of active aging

• Training meetings and educational activities (individual or group) on various topics in the psychological field

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