Using repertory grid to establish patients’ views of psycho-education

Objectives
This article aims to describe the use of repertory grid to assess participant’s perception of a psychoeducation programme for psychosis, prior to and following on from attendance at an eleven week group intervention, delivered across high and medium secure forensic services in Scotland.

Design
As part of a wider randomised controlled trial, a cohort of patients (n=18) were selected to discuss their views on what might change as a result of attending the Coping With Mental Illness (CWMI) group, a psychoeducation group, designed for people who suffer from psychosis.

Methods
Group participants received 22 sessions of psycho-education. Participants were assessed using structured interviews at two time points, pre and post intervention, using repertory grids.

Results
A specialised computer programme (Gridsuite) was used to analyse data generated from the repertory grids. Principal component analysis indicated a number of factors were responsible for the change in participants’ experience of the group.

Conclusions
Conclusions suggest that repertory grid is a useful alternative to interview when exploring views of psychological interventions in a group of mentally disordered offenders. There is evidence to suggest that the intervention did prompt a change in patient perception.