Wr. Mcfarlane et al., MULTIPLE-FAMILY GROUPS AND PSYCHOEDUCATION IN THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA, Archives of general psychiatry, 52(8), 1995, pp. 679-687
Objective: To compare outcomes in psychoeducational multiple-family gr
oup treatment vs psychoeducational single-family treatment. Method: A
total of 172 acutely psychotic patients, aged 18 to 45 years, with DSM
-III-R schizophrenic disorders were randomly assigned to single- or mu
ltiple-family psychoeducational treatment at six public hospitals in t
he state of New York. Psychotic relapse, symptom status, medication co
mpliance, rehospitalization, and employment were assessed independentl
y during 2 years of supervised treatment. Results: The multiple-family
groups yielded significantly lower 2-year cumulative relapse rates th
an did the single-family modality (16% vs 27%) and achieved markedly l
ower rates in patients whose conditions had not remitted at index hosp
ital discharge (13% vs 33%). The relapse hazard ratio between treatmen
ts was 1:3. The relapse rate for both modalities was less than half th
e expected rate (65% to 80% for 2 years) for patients receiving indivi
dual treatment and medication. Rehospitalization rates and psychotic s
ymptoms decreased significantly, and medication compliance was high, t
o an equal degree in both modalities. Conclusion: Psychoeducational mu
ltiple-family groups were more effective than single-family treatment
in extending remission, especially in patients at higher risk for rela
pse, with a cost-benefit ratio of up to 1:34.