At the Psychiatric University Clinics (UPK) Basel a standardized psychoeducative group program with a diagnosis-independent, multimodal and bifocal conception for patients with severe mental disorders has been established.

Recent publications show that this strongly recommended intervention is highly underutilized in its traditional, disorder-specific form. E.g. an extensive survey in Germany, Switzerland and Austria revealed that 2003 only 21 % of all schizophrenic inpatients and 2 % of their relatives received psychoeducation, and probably the data for other diseases are even lower. Among other reasons difficulties concerning the availability of enough patients with the same diagnosis were accused for not offering this effective and cost-effective method. Clinical and theoretical considerations also support a diagnosis-independent modification, and it should promote the wider employment of psychoeducation.

Apart from that we expect a stronger effect on treatment-adherence by the integration of cognitive-behavioural modules and psychodynamic aspects. The findings of compliance research clearly indicate that a mere knowledge transfer has significantly less impact than a combination of different therapeutic elements. This is of crucial importance because compliance strongly influences course and outcome of the diseases, as well as relatives' burden and socio-economic costs.

Since 2006 e.g. participants' satisfaction is examined and the data show very good acceptance. Currently a randomized controlled trial is carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention concerning relapse and rehospitalisation rates, social functioning, quality of life, compliance, insight into the disease and burden on family during a 1-year-follow-up-period.

The curriculum of the program and first results will be presented.