Effectiveness of Relatives’ Psychoeducation on Family Outcomes in Bipolar Disorder

Abstract:

The chronicity and recurrent nature of manic and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder render it a major public health concern. Not surprisingly, the development of effective treatment interventions is a priority. The impact of family psychoeducation, as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy, has also received heightened attention. The present study endeavors to assess the effectiveness of relatives-group psychoeducation on caregivers’ knowledge, family burden, and psychological distress. Eighty relatives were recruited from the Families’ Association for Mental Health and randomly allocated either to the control condition (treatment as usual) or the intervention group (seven psychoeducation sessions). Participants were interviewed at baseline, completion of intervention, and six-month follow-up by researchers blind to treatment allocation. The structured interview included the Knowledge About Bipolar Disorder Questionnaire, the Family Burden Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire–12. Findings indicated that relatives psychoeducation had a positive effect on participants’ outcomes upon completion of the intervention as well as at the six-month follow-up. Family psychoeducation is a promising intervention for effectively managing and treating bipolar disorder.

Keywords:

• carer
• burden
• group therapy
• severe mental illness
• psychiatric rehabilitation
• distress