Researchers from Spain's University of Barcelona "randomly assigned 113 medicated euthymic bipolar outpatients who lived with their caregivers to an experimental group in which the caregivers received 12 90-minute psychoeducation sessions on bipolar disorder and coping skills, or a control group in which the caregivers received no specific intervention." The patients themselves "did not attend the groups," but "they were assessed monthly for any mood recurrence during the intervention, and for 12 months of follow-up."

The investigators found that 61 patients had "a mood episode recurrence during follow-up, of whom 42 percent were from the intervention group, and 66 percent from the control group." Moreover, "among those with a hypomanic/manic episode, the intervention was associated with a significantly longer time to relapse, and a significantly lower number of patients experiencing relapse, at 17.5 percent, versus 37.5 percent for controls."

Related Links:

- "Caregiver psychoeducation reduces bipolar disorder relapse," Liam Davenport, MedWire NEws, May 20, 2008.