A Brief Psychoeducation Intervention to Prevent Rehospitalization in Severe Mental Disorder Inpatients

Abstract

The efficacy of medium- to long-term psychoeducation in preventing relapse and hospitalization in people with severe mental disorders (SMDs) is robust. However, the evidence is inconclusive in brief interventions and individual modalities. The aim of this randomized clinical trial in SMD inpatients is to analyze the efficacy of a brief psychoeducation intervention added to treatment-as-usual, in improving the rehospitalization rate at 3 and 6 months after discharge. Fifty-one SMD inpatients were randomized to the intervention (n = 24) or control group (n = 27). Low insight and poor medication adherence were the most prevalent risk factors at admission. No significant differences were observed in the rehospitalization rate at 3 and 6 months after discharge. On the overall sample, the number of previous hospitalizations was a rehospitalization predictor at 3 (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.56; p = 0.04) and 6 months (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.17–2.91; p = 0.009). SMD people require multimodal and persistent approaches focused on insight and medication adherence to prevent rehospitalizations.