1 The Schizophrenia Care Management Program for Family Caregivers of Chinese Patients With Schizophrenia

Objectives: This study tested the effectiveness of a schizophrenia care management program for family caregivers of Chinese patients with schizophrenia in Hong Kong. Methods: A multisite controlled trial was conducted with 92 patient-caregiver dyads. They were randomly assigned to either the schizophrenia care management program or to usual care. The patients ’ symptoms, functioning, and length of rehospitalization and their families ’ perceived social support, expressed emotion, and functioning were measured at recruitment and at one month and 15 months after the intervention. Results: Compared with families in the usual care group, families in the schizophrenia care management program reported significantly greater improvements in families ’ and patients ’ functioning and caregivers ’ perceived social support, and decreases in the number and length of patients ’ rehospitalization over the 15-month follow-up period. Conclusions: The findings provide evidence that the multidisciplinary schizophrenia care program can improve the psychosocial functioning of patients and their families and social support of caregivers. (Psychiatric Services 61(3):317-320, 2010) It is recognized that caring for someone with schizophrenia can have adverse psychosocia