A Psychoeducational Program for Families of Affectively ill Children and Adolescents

62 parents of 34 affectively ill adolescents received one 2- hour psychoeducational session that covered information about the diagnosis, course & treatment of affective illness. A 21-item questionnaire, including 7 questions about suicide, evaluated pre- & post-test knowledge. On 8 of 21 questions, respondents showed a significant improvement in knowledge about depression. Findings support the feasiblity, acceptability, & to a modest degree, the efficacy of a family psychoeducational program.