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Efficacy and effectiveness of individual family intervention on social and clinical functioning and family burden in severe schizophrenia: a 2-year randomized controlled study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2009

M. Girón*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Medicine, University Miguel Hernández, Alacant, Spain
A. Fernández-Yañez
Affiliation:
Florida-Babel Mental Health Centre, Alacant, Spain
S. Mañá-Alvarenga
Affiliation:
Petrer Mental Health Centre, Petrer, Spain
A. Molina-Habas
Affiliation:
Ciutat Jardí Mental Health Centre, Alacant, Spain
A. Nolasco
Affiliation:
Unidad de Investigación de Análisis de la Mortalidad y Estadísticas Sanitarias, Departamento de Enfermería Comunitaria, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, e Historia de la Ciencia, Universidad de Alacant, Alacant, Spain
M. Gómez-Beneyto
Affiliation:
The Teaching Unit of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain Ciber en Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr M. Girón, Departamento de Medicina Clinica, Universitat Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan, Carretera Alacant-València (N-332) Km 87, 03550Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain. (Email: giron@icali.es)

Abstract

Background

Empirical evidence of the efficacy and effectiveness of psychosocial family intervention and of the specificity of its effects on the course of schizophrenia is limited. The aim was to study the efficacy and effectiveness of psychosocial family intervention with regard to clinical and social functioning and family burden after controlling for compliance and several prognostic factors.

Method

A 2-year randomized controlled trial with blind assessments. Fifty patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia and persistent positive symptoms and/or previous clinical relapse were allocated to psychosocial family intervention, individual counselling and standard treatment versus individual counselling and standard treatment.

Results

Family intervention was associated with fewer clinical relapses, hospitalizations and major incidents, and an improvement in positive and negative symptoms, social role performance, social relations, employment and family burden. The reduction in hospitalizations in the family intervention group was significantly greater than that observed in the group of patients who refused to participate but this was not the case for the control group. The effects of family intervention were independent of compliance and prognostic factors.

Conclusions

Family intervention is effective in severe schizophrenia independently of compliance and prognostic factors.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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