PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL MULTIPLE FAMILY GROUPS - 4-YEAR RELAPSE OUTCOME IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Earlier studies of family psychoeducation and clinical reports on mult iple family groups (MFGs) have reported substantial reductions in rela pse rates for patients with schizophrenia. These groups offer an expan ded social network and thereby may confer a margin of protection again st relapse. However, to date, there has not been an empirical trial of this modality. The advent of family psychoeducational and behavioral management strategies provided the basis for an experimental, three-wa y comparison of psychoeducational MFGs to psychoeducation in a single- family format and to MFGs without psychoeducation, using symptomatic r elapse as the outcome criterion. After 4 years, the psychoeducational MFGs were significantly more effective in extending remission than the single-family format, while the MFGs without psychoeducation approxim ated outcome in the psychoeducational MFGs. The respective relapse rat es at 4 years were 50%, 78%, and 57%; MFGs averaged 12.5% and 14% per year. These results point toward an. enhanced and independent, long-te rm therapeutic effect for multiple family groups, when combined with a ntipsychotic medication and psychoeducation, with especially promising cost effectiveness.