Management of negative symptoms among patients with schizophrenia attending multiple-family groups

Objective: Outcomes for negative symptoms over a one-year period were exami ned in two groups of patients, one receiving psychoeducational multiple-fam ily group treatment and one receiving standard care. Methods:: A total of 6 3 outpatients, ages 18 to 45 years, with DSM-IV diagnoses of schizophrenic disorders were randomly assigned to standard care or multiple-family group psychoeducation treatment at a large mental health center in Spokane, Washi ngton. Treatment assignment was stratified by whether patients were taking typical or atypical antipsychotic medications. Negative symptom status was monitored monthly for one year by raters blind to group assignment and meas ured as a composite of five symptoms using the Modified Scale for the Asses sment of Negative Symptoms. Results: When the analysis controlled for basel ine negative symptoms, participants in the multiple-family group experience d significantly reduced negative symptoms compared with those receiving sta ndard care. Taking atypical antipsychotic medication or having a diagnosis of substance abuse was not associated with the severity of negative symptom s. An additional analysis of the five individual negative symptoms indicate d small but consistent group differences on all dimensions except inattenti on. Negative symptoms were significantly correlated with relapse to acute i llness but not with outpatient or inpatient science use. Conclusions: The s tudy demonstrated that a psychoeducational multiple-family group interventi on was more effective than standard care in managing negative symptoms over a 12-month period. The results are particularly relevant because negative symptoms are associated with relapse, poor social and occupational function ing, cognitive impairment, and lower subjective quality of life.