Pratiques d’éducation thérapeutique en psychiatrie. Enquête auprès des psychiatres hospitaliers d’Aquitaine

[A patient education program for adolescents with anorexia nervosa]

Patient education program (PEP) aims to help the patient acquire the skills necessary to manage a chronic disease. A multidisciplinary TPE program for adolescents with anorexia nervosa was developed in a daycare hospital setting. This qualitative study, exploring the experience of the caregivers involved in this program, reports the benefits but more so the difficulties linked to the clinical specificities of anorexia nervosa, as well as the numerous requirements, constraints and necessary adjustments linked to this innovative practice.

Caregiver Representations of Therapeutic Patient Education Programmes for People with Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Study

Background: In France, there are two main types of psychosocial educational therapies for people with mental disorders: (1) therapeutic patient education (TPE) or “training”, and (2) psychoeducation. Both types of educational therapy aim to improve disease morbidity, treatment compliance and patient quality of life, but they have very different modes of application. The aim of this study was to interview mental health professionals in order to explore and identify the determinants (barriers and enablers) underlying their acceptance of therapeutic patient education (TPE) in order to facilitate the implementation of these programmes among people with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia. Methods: In this multicentre cross-sectional study, we opted for a qualitative approach based on individual semi-structured interviews with 21 mental health professionals trained in TPE, regardless of whether they had practiced it before or not. In accordance with the “Jardé” law (Decree no 2016-1537 dated 16 November 2016 published on 17 November 2016 in the Official Journal of the French Republic). No regulatory approval was required for this study. Results: The major themes that emerged from the analysis were grouped into the following conceptual framework: (1) mental health professionals (MHPs) highlight important organizational and institutional challenges that they feel are beyond their scope; (2) MHPs mention in parallel their own perceptions and representations of TPE in the context of mental health care; and (3) MHPs’ representations could hide a lack of knowledge or awareness that would prevent them from appropriating TPE programmes. For each major theme, the sub-themes identified are presented. Conclusions: Although TPE is of interest in the process of patient empowerment, we found that caregivers were reluctant to appropriate this approach to care. Efforts must be made in the initial and ongoing training of MHPs to move from a paternalistic model to a patient partnership model, which is made possible by TPE. These efforts must also be firmly supported by health care facilities, and proactive governance is required for the successful implementation of TPE.

[Education care in patients with psychiatric disorders in France: Psychoeducation or therapeutic patient education?]

CONTEXT

Psychoeducation and therapeutic patient education can be effectively included in treatments for patients with psychiatric disorders. These two effective educational therapies have the common purpose of improving disorder-related morbidity, compliance with treatment and patients' quality of life. While they have different methods of application, both teach patients to play an active role in their own care. However, it is still critical to combine them for care of patients with psychiatric and addiction disorders in a manner that allows for specificity. To do this, the differences between psychoeducation and therapeutic patient education must be considered, and their potential for the management of patients with psychiatric and addiction disorders must be determined.

METHODS

In our article, we review the literature concerning therapeutic education programs for patients and discuss the literature based on the experiences of psychiatrists trained in these therapies.

RESULTS

Despite rather nonrestrictive guidelines, and after reviewing numerous studies, we found that psychoeducation seems to be rarely used in psychiatry. The use of therapeutic patient education programs for psychiatric patients has doubled in four years but still accounts for less than 4% of validated programs in France. Only 154 programs were developed in 1175 public psychiatric facilities in 2016. Therapeutic patient education has a legal framework and recommendations, which make it suitable for inclusion in care and in the training of care providers. The rigor in the development of therapeutic patient education programs and the requirement for training and financial support reinforce the need for their establishment in healthcare institutions. As such, they could help to modify professional practices and the culture of care in mental health fields.

CONCLUSION

There is a place for therapeutic patient education in psychiatry as it provides a real benefit for patients. It could modify care practices and costs, and is suitable for patients with psychiatric or addiction disorders by helping them play an active role in their care, thereby improving treatment outcomes and quality of life.

[Therapeutic benefit of a registered psychoeducation program on treatment adherence, objective and subjective quality of life: French pilot study for schizophrenia]

INTRODUCTION

In schizophrenic disorders, supportive psychosocial therapies have been used as adjuncts to pharmacotherapy to help alleviate residual symptoms and to improve social functioning and quality of life. Among these therapies, psychoeducational therapies showed a significant efficacy on improving drug adherence and on reducing relapses. However, according to the French Health Agency, fewer than 10% of psychiatric structures in France offer registered psychoeducation programs. Caregiver apprehension of patients' depressive reactions to the awareness of the disease could underlie the underuse of psychoeducation therapies. Indeed, the psychoeducation programs' impact on objective and subjective quality of life is discussed among the literature. In this context, we conducted a retrospective, monocentric, open-labelled and non-controlled pilot study to measure the impact of a registered psychoeducation program on objective and subjective quality of life of patients suffering from schizophrenia. Secondary objectives included measures of the effects on drug observance and awareness of the disease.

METHODS

We included stabilized patients over the age of eighteen suffering from schizophrenia. Referent psychiatrics were asked to inform the patient of the diagnosis and to prescribe psychoeducation therapy. From 2011 to 2014, we offered three ambulatory programs, each program including fifteen two-hour group sessions. The groups were opened for three to six patients and managed by two caregivers. Themes discussed during the sessions included: schizophrenic disease, treatments, relationships to family, diet, social issues, toxics, relaxation. Objective and subjective quality of life were evaluated one month before and one month after the program using respectively the global assessment functioning (GAF) and the subjective quality of life (SQoL) scales. The Medical Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) and the French IQ8 scale evaluated respectively drug adherence and awareness of the disease. All patients gave their written consent for the study. Based on medical records and scales, we compared data before and after the program using the Wilcoxon test, adapted for small samples.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients, with a mean age of 37.6 years, were included. All patients had a chronic antipsychotic treatment and four benefitted from a bitherapy with a mood stabilizer. The mean length of disease was 15.3 years, with a mean number of 3.4 hospitalizations before inclusion. The participation rate was nearly twelve sessions out of fifteen. Mean GAF score before the program was 48/100. After the program, mean GAF score was significantly increased to 54/100 (P=0.008). As to SQoL score, we found a significant difference of the sub item psychological well-being from 3.2/5 before the program to 3.8/5 after the program (P=0.03). Global SQoL score and other sub items (self-esteem, resilience, and physical well-being) showed a slight but not significant improvement. The sub items family relationships and sentimental life were diminished, non-significantly. Concerning the drug adherence, the mean MARS score was significantly increased from 6.1 to 6.4/8 (P=0.03). Comparison of the insight IQ8 scale showed a slight but non-significant increase. When asked to note the program, patients were globally very satisfied, with a mean rate of 8.6/10. Of fourteen patients, one needed to be hospitalized three years after program.

DISCUSSION

This retrospective study on a small sample of patients suffering from schizophrenic disorder pointed out a significant improvement on drug adherence, objective quality of life and psychological well-being, after an eight-month registered program of psychoeducational therapy. These results are in line with a recent report from the Cochrane group who reported a significant raise of GAF associated with psychoeducational therapies. The literature data for subjective quality of life are more contradictory. Despite the small sample and evaluation means that need to be corrected in further studies, we reproduced the results described in the literature regarding the improvement on drug adherence. However, the stability of these effects should be checked in the medium and long term.

CONCLUSION

Adjunctive psychoeducation therapy has a positive impact on reducing relapses in schizophrenia. In this study, we showed a significant benefit on drug adherence, objective quality of life and psychological well-being on a small sample of patients and provide arguments for the development of psychoeducation programs which are currently underrepresented in France. Our results encourage conducting a further prospective multicenter controlled study on a larger sample to clarify the benefit of psychoeducational therapy on objective and subjective quality of life in schizophrenia.

[MODen: Psychoeducationnal therapeutic group program for schizophrenic patients, based on nutritional balance and pleasure, using cognitive functions: A pilot study]

INTRODUCTION

Schizophrenia causes psychological difficulties (with positive and/or negative symptoms) as well as cognitive disabilities (attention, memory, executive functions and social cognition). Moreover, 40 to 60% of patients suffer from an excess of weight or obesity (due to bad eating habits, eating disorders or medication). All these difficulties impair their autonomy and their insertion into the society. In this context, setting-up a therapeutic tool, which may have cognitive benefits seems relevant. Thus, MODen is a therapeutic educational tool whose aim is to improve cognitive functions and the symptoms by using "nutritional balance" as an aid.

METHOD

In this treatment program, two therapists lead a group of 5 to 8 patients which group meets once a week during two to four hours for 16 weeks, divided in 4 cycles. The first three weeks of each cycle consists of theoretical instruction: patients talk about their eating habits, information is given about nutritional balance and preparation of meals. In the different cycles, flexibility, planning, memory and attention are trained. For instance, the work on categorisation of foods and nutritional balance allow enhancing flexibility abilities. Writing down the lists of different ingredients needed for one week's meals and preparation of meals train planning abilities. MODen also takes into account ecological issues such as the limited budget of patients to do their shopping (this budget is around 4 euros per meal in France). The budget is also linked to planning abilities and reasoning. Finally, during the last session of each cycle the group prepares a meal (from the shopping to cooking). This last session is all about sharing and social cognition abilities. By the end of the program, patients will have prepared four meals together. Also "homework" has to be done each week in order to facilitate memorisation of what has been learned during the last session and to prepare the beginning of the next session.

RESULTS

In a pilot study with 8 patients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV), improvements in PANSS negative symptoms and disorganization (respectively P<0.02; P<0.02) were observed. An underlying improvement at BECS scores was also observed (P<0.08). Regarding those preliminary results as well as the ecological qualities of this program, this therapeutic tool could be relevant in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia.