Clinical Research Directory

AI-Supported CBT-Based Psychoeducation for Caregivers of Individuals With Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects the diagnosed individual and the family members involved in the care process from a biopsychosocial perspective. The course of the illness, the recurrence of symptoms, and the high level of care required can increase the burden on caregivers and make it difficult for them to express their emotions. Structured psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioral interventions have been reported to be beneficial for caregivers in managing these challenges. The aim of this study is to develop an AI-supported psychoeducation program based on a cognitive-behavioral approach for caregivers of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and to evaluate the program's impact on caregiving burden and the level of emotional expression. The six-week program will cover topics such as the caregiver role and burden, schizophrenia, the thought-emotion-behavior cycle, recognizing and expressing emotions, effective communication, setting boundaries, seeking support, signs of relapse, and crisis planning. Content based on scientific literature will be evaluated by experts. Artificial intelligence will facilitate interaction with the content, participation in activities, the application of skills, and structured feedback. The system will not provide clinical assessments, diagnoses, or personalized treatment recommendations; participants will be referred to appropriate healthcare services in situations requiring professional evaluation. The study will be conducted using a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test control groups. A total of 88 caregivers will be recruited, with 44 assigned to the experimental group and 44 to the control group. The program will be administered to the experimental group, while the control group will receive routine care. Data will be collected using the Caregiver Descriptive Information Form, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, and the Emotional Expression Scale. A Program Evaluation Form will also be used for the experimental group. The program to be developed is expected to reduce the caregiving burden on caregivers and improve their ability to express emotions. It is anticipated that the findings will contribute to psychiatric nursing practice, the development of AI-supported psychoeducation programs, and the strengthening of psychosocial support provided to caregivers.