Psycho-education for bipolar disorders and schizophrenia as major psychotic disorders is widely adopted. Meta-analytic data demonstrate efficacy for psychoeducation when intervention include family members, as well as some little benefits while directed solely toward patients. Accumulated data suggest that psychoeducation improves the course of the illness by increasing the patients' and their families' knowledge of the disorder, treatment options and medication adherence by decreasing the risk of relapse and hospitalization. The data also suggest improve-ment of social and occupational functioning.
In conclusion, psycho-education should be part of integrated treatment delivered individually or in a group setting, constituting a first-line psychological intervention for psychotic patients as a complement to pharmacotherapy. Applicable to the majority of patients and their families, psycho-education can be delivered by a wide range of health professionals trained in this approach, should be used by every psychiatrist as well.