Early symptoms of exacerbation of schizophrenia: views of patients, relatives and psychiatrists

The study was carried out using focused interviews in three groups of responders patients with several exacerbations of schizophrenia, their relatives and their psychiatrists. It has been shown that either patients or their relatives do not recognize the early symptoms of the exacerbation of psychosis. Three opposite approaches of responders to the issues related to awareness of disease and medical intervention were singled out: rational (in psychiatrists), autonomic (in patients) and emotional (in relatives). The authors substantiate the necessity of psychoeducational programs for patients aimed at bringing together interests of patients and psychiatrists with the following impact on the relatives who take the dualistic position with conformal readiness.