Effect of an education program on improving knowledge of schizophrenia among parents of junior and senior high school students in Japan

Questionnaires were distributed to 2,690 parents. The program was developed to help parents obtain a basic understanding of schizophrenia and to emphasize the necessity of early detection.Before the program, the rate of correct answers was 77% for items concerning basic knowledge of schizophrenia, 47% for "discrimination of schizophrenia symptoms," and 30% for "discrimination of prodromal symptoms." The program resulted in an improvement in basic knowledge of schizophrenia, discrimination of schizophrenia symptoms, and discrimination of prodromal symptoms (P < 0.001 for all).Our web-based education program was useful in helping parents acquire a basic knowledge of schizophrenia and discriminate correctly the symptoms of schizophrenia.Delayed detection of schizophrenia and the resulting prolongation of the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) are viewed as serious issues in the mental health field [1-3]. The median DUP has been estimated at between 1 and 2 years [4,5], and a prolonged DUP has been associated with delayed remission, increased risk of suicide, substance abuse, and an unfavourable prognosis [6-8].Studies have revealed a number of important factors related to delayed detection of schizophrenia [9-13]. One is lack of basic knowledge of the symptoms of the disease [9-12]. Those without an understanding of the symptoms of schizophrenia may miss the onset of the illness in people close to them.Providing accurate information on schizophrenia is essential in preventing delays in diagnosis. In particular, parents of adolescents need to have sufficient knowledge of the disorder so they can identify an initial episode in their children. The onset of schizophrenia is typically between ages 15 and 25 years in males and between ages 25 and 35 years in females [4]. However, individuals are likely to experience their first psychotic symptoms before age 20 [14]. If parents are able to identify the symptoms of schizophrenia at an early stage, they are more likely to se