Abstract
Objective
To investigate whether the beneficial effects of a structured psychoeducational parallel group program for adolescents with early-onset psychosis and their families observed immediately after the intervention were maintained two years later.
Method
The present study examines the longitudinal efficacy of a randomized controlled trial based on a psychoeducational, problem-solving, structured group intervention for adolescents with early-onset psychosis and their families (PE) and compares it with that of a non-structured group intervention (NS) after a two-year follow-up. We analyzed whether the differences between PE and NS found after the intervention persisted two years later. Inter-group differences in number and duration of hospitalizations, symptoms, and functioning were also assessed.
Results
After two years of follow-up, we were able to reassess 89% of patients. In the PE group, 13% of patients had visited the emergency department, compared with 50% in the NS group (p=.019). However, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups for negative symptoms or number and duration of hospitalizations. A significant improvement in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) general symptoms was observed in the PE group.
Conclusion
Our psychoeducational group intervention showed sustained effects by diminishing the number of visits to emergency department two years after the intervention. Our findings indicate that this psychoeducational intervention could provide patients with long-lasting resources to manage crises more effectively.
http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567(15)00649-8/abstract?rss=yes