Effect of a psycho-educational intervention for family members on caregiver burdens and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia in Shiraz, Iran

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Abstract

Background

This study explored the effectiveness of family psycho-education in reducing patients’ symptoms and on family caregiver burden.

Methods

Seventy Iranian outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia disorder and their caregivers were randomly allocated to the experimental (n = 35) or control groups (n = 35). Patients in the experimental group received antipsychotic drug treatment and a psycho-educational program was arranged for their caregivers. The psycho-educational program consisted of ten 90-min sessions held during five weeks (two session in each week). Each caregiver attended 10 sessions (in five weeks) At baseline, immediately after intervention, and one month later. Validated tools were used to assess patients’ clinical status and caregiver burden.

Results

Compared with the control group, the case group showed significantly reduced symptom severity and caregiver burden both immediately after intervention and one month later.

Conclusions

These results suggest that even need based short-term psycho-educational intervention for family members of Iranian patients with schizophrenic disorder may improve the outcomes of patients and their families.

Trial registration

IRCT Number:138809122812 N1`

Related collections

Most cited references 28

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The psychosocial treatment of schizophrenia: an update.

Megan S. Keith, W Horan, Pedro J. Bustillo … (2001)

The authors sought to update the randomized controlled trial literature of psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia. Computerized literature searches were conducted to identify randomized controlled trials of various psychosocial interventions, with emphasis on studies published since a previous review of psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia in 1996. Family therapy and assertive community treatment have clear effects on the prevention of psychotic relapse and rehospitalization. However, these treatments have no consistent effects on other outcome measures (e.g., pervasive positive and negative symptoms, overall social functioning, and ability to obtain competitive employment). Social skills training improves social skills but has no clear effects on relapse prevention, psychopathology, or employment status. Supportive employment programs that use the place-and-train vocational model have important effects on obtaining competitive employment. Some studies have shown improvements in delusions and hallucinations following cognitive behavior therapy. Preliminary research indicates that personal therapy may improve social functioning. Relatively simple, long-term psychoeducational family therapy should be available to the majority of persons suffering from schizophrenia. Assertive community training programs ought to be offered to patients with frequent relapses and hospitalizations, especially if they have limited family support. Patients with schizophrenia can clearly improve their social competence with social skills training, which may translate into a more adaptive functioning in the community. For patients interested in working, rapid placement with ongoing support offers the best opportunity for maintaining a regular job in the community. Cognitive behavior therapy may benefit the large number of patients who continue to experience disabling psychotic symptoms despite optimal pharmacological treatment.

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Translating research into practice: the Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) treatment recommendations.

Nicholas Lehman, D Steinwachs (1997)

Beginning in 1992, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and the National Institute of Mental Health funded the Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) to develop and disseminate recommendations for the treatment of schizophrenia based on existing scientific evidence. These Treatment Recommendations, presented here in final form for the first time, are based on exhaustive reviews of the treatment outcomes literature (previously published in Schizophrenia Bulletin, Vol. 21, No. 4, 1995) and focus on those treatments for which there is substantial evidence of efficacy. The recommendations address antipsychotic agents, adjunctive pharmacotherapies, electroconvulsive therapy, psychological interventions, family interventions, vocational rehabilitation, and assertive community treatment/intensive case management. Support for each recommendation is referenced to the previous PORT literature reviews, and the recommendations are rated according to the level of supporting evidence. The PORT Treatment Recommendations provide a basis for moving toward "evidence-based" practice for schizophrenia and identify both the strengths and limitations in our current knowledge base.

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Instruments measuring family or caregiver burden in severe mental illness.

R. Tessler, A Schene, G Gamache (1994)

The consequences of psychiatric disorders for family members, usually called family or caregiver burden, have been studied during the last 4 decades. During this period a variety of instruments have been developed to measure the impact of mental illness on family members, but not all instruments have been described systematically in the published literature. The authors review 21 instruments that have been used or developed during the last 10 years, including several that have not previously been reported. The protocols are described in terms of their method and comprehensiveness, precursors and theoretical foundations, and types of psychometric information available. The instruments are assessed for potential use as research tools, and also for application in routine clinical practice.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): BMC Psychiatry

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): BMC Psychiatry

Title: BMC Psychiatry

Publisher: BioMed Central

ISSN (Electronic): 1471-244X

Publication date Collection: 2012

Publication date (Electronic): 25 May 2012

Volume: 12

Page: 48

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Mental Health & Psychiatric Nursing, Community Based Nursing &Midwifery Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

[2 ]Department of Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

[3 ]University Counseling Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Article

Publisher ID: 1471-244X-12-48

DOI: 10.1186/1471-244X-12-48

PMC ID: 3441201

PubMed ID: 22632135

SO-VID: f78fb6b7-ca93-41f6-8dbe-69817dbddc3c

License:

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Effect of a psycho-educational intervention for family members on caregiver burdens and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia in Shiraz, Iran

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

Related collections

New Psychiatry

Most cited references 28

The psychosocial treatment of schizophrenia: an update.

Translating research into practice: the Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) treatment recommendations.

Instruments measuring family or caregiver burden in severe mental illness.

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