Conclusions : Psychoeducation is a psychosocial treatment that has been well documented as an adjunct to pharmacological therapy .
However , there are only a few studies regarding its effectiveness on adult patients with major depressive disorder .
Although the publications in this area are still very limited , the articles selected in this review suggest that psychoeducation is effective in improving the clinical course , treatment adherence , and psychosocial functioning of depressive patients
Objective : Pharmacological treatment is considered indispensable to major depressive disorder .
In spite of this , a significant number of patients do not respond adequately to treatment based only on medication , presenting high relapse and recurrence rates .
Therefore , psychosocial interventions , such as psychoeducation , have been increasingly recognized as an essential component in the treatment of depression , associated with pharmacological strategies .
Thus , the aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of psychoeducation  for patients with unipolar depression , analyzing the evidence from the literature .
Problem solving treatment and group psychoeducation for depression: multicentre randomised controlled trial
Abstract Objectives : To determine the acceptability of two psychological interventions for depressed adults in the community and their effect on caseness , symptoms , and subjective function . Design : A pragmatic multicentre r and omised controlled trial , stratified by centre . Setting : Nine urban and rural communities in Finl and , Republic of Irel and , Norway , Spain , and the United Kingdom . Participants : 452 participants aged 18 to 65 , identified through a community survey with depressive or adjustment disorders according to the international classification of diseases , 10th revision or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , fourth edition . Interventions : Six individual sessions of problem solving treatment ( n=128 ) , eight group sessions of the course on prevention of depression ( n=108 ) , and controls ( n=189 ) . Main outcome measures : Completion rates for each intervention , diagnosis of depression , and depressive symptoms and subjective function . Results : 63 % of participants assigned to problem solving and 44 % assigned to prevention of depression completed their intervention . The proportion of problem solving participants depressed at six months was 17 % less than that for controls , giving a number needed to treat of 6 ; the mean difference in Beck depression inventory score was −2.63 ( 95 % confidence interval −4.95 to −0.32 ) , and there were significant improvements in SF-36 scores . For depression prevention , the difference in proportions of depressed participants was 14 % ( number needed to treat of 7 ) ; the mean difference in Beck depression inventory score was −1.50 ( −4.16 to 1.17 ) , and there were significant improvements in SF-36 scores . Such differences were not observed at 12 months . Neither specific diagnosis nor treatment with antidepressants affected outcome . Conclusions : When offered to adults with depressive disorders in the community , problem solving treatment was more acceptable than the course on prevention of depression . Both interventions reduced caseness and improved subjective function
Conclusions : Psychoeducation is a psychosocial treatment that has been well documented as an adjunct to pharmacological therapy .
However , there are only a few studies regarding its effectiveness on adult patients with major depressive disorder .
Although the publications in this area are still very limited , the articles selected in this review suggest that psychoeducation is effective in improving the clinical course , treatment adherence , and psychosocial functioning of depressive patients
Objective : Pharmacological treatment is considered indispensable to major depressive disorder .
In spite of this , a significant number of patients do not respond adequately to treatment based only on medication , presenting high relapse and recurrence rates .
Therefore , psychosocial interventions , such as psychoeducation , have been increasingly recognized as an essential component in the treatment of depression , associated with pharmacological strategies .
Thus , the aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of psychoeducation  for patients with unipolar depression , analyzing the evidence from the literature .