The psychotherapeutic unit for psychotic patients in Psychiatric hospital Sveti Ivan, Zagreb, Croatia provides psychotherapeutic and psychosocial treatment for mostly young psychotic patients. Psychotherapeutic program has basically psychodynamic frame and patients participate in small and medium groups. Also, they participate in workshops based on cognitive behavioral principles (anti-stigma, self-concept, emotion, relationships, goals, stress), psycho-education, therapeutic community, work and occupational therapy, recreational therapy.

The aim of this study was to determine effectiveness of this comprehensive program during hospitalization of individuals with first psychotic episode on psychotherapeutic ward. We evaluated the possible changes during treatment in attitudes towards drugs, in quality of life, insight and self-esteem.

Participants were 37 individuals with first psychotic episode, average age: 25.1. They fulfilled: Drug attitude inventory (DAI-10), The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL), Insight scale and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale at the beginning of treatment and at discharge from the hospital.

Results show tendency of more positive attitude towards drugs at discharge, as well as tendency of better self-esteem, statistically significant more satisfaction with physical health (P = 0.004), psychological health (P = 0.004) and with environment (P = 0.001), and statistically significant better quality of life (P = 0.000). There was no significant difference in insight.

During psychotherapeutic treatment of individuals with first psychotic episode, positive changes were observed. So, our findings indicate importance of implementing such a comprehensive program in treatment.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.