Authors : Mohammad Ali Ghoreishizadeh , Faranak Deldoost and Alireza Farnam
Abstract: Bipolar Mood Disorder (BMD) affects approximately 1% of the adult population. It is an episodic long-term illness, which causes substantial psychosocial morbidity. Using psychosocial intervention in addition to maintenance pharmacological treatment may increase medication compliance, decrease hospitalization and increase overall functioning. This study examined whether a psycho educational program for relapse prevention is more effective than treatment as usual in reducing relapse and rehospitalization rates among outpatients with BMD. Sixty outpatients with DSM IV bipolar disorder diagnosis were randomly assigned to receive either the psychosocial program (experimental group n = 30) or usual treatment (control group n = 30) and were followed up for an 18-months prospective controlled study. Patients in both groups were prescribed standard doses of maintenance lithium carbonate. Treatment with experimental group consisted of a combination of 6 sessions of biweekly psycho educational therapy and lithium therapy. The control group consisted routine advices and lithium. Outcome rates over 18 months were in 7 patients (23.3%) for relapse and 5 patients (16.6%) for rehospitalization in the experimental group, compared with 11 patients (36.6%) for relapse and 8 patients (26.6%) for rehospitalization in control group (p = 0 .01 and p = 0.05, respectively). The findings of this study suggest the beneficial effects of psycho educational program in reducing of relapse in BMD.
Mohammad Ali Ghoreishizadeh , Faranak Deldoost and Alireza Farnam , 2008. A Psycho Educational Program for Relapse Prevention in Bipolar Disorder. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 3: 786-789.