Randomized, controlled trial of a brief family‐centred care programme for hospitalized patients with bipolar disorder and their family caregivers

Abstract

Family interventions have been emphasized in the treatment of bipolar disorder (BPD) due to the bidirectional and entangled relationships between patients and the family system, and have benefits for patients' symptoms and health; however, the effects of family interventions on family function and caregivers' health-related outcomes have not been well investigated. This randomized, controlled trial with 47 hospitalized patients with BPD/family caregiver dyads at a medical centre in northern Taiwan compared the effects of a brief family-centred care (BFCC) programme with treatment as usual (TAU). All of the family caregivers in two groups were invited to attend a routine 60-min family discussion group about violence and suicide prevention. The TAU group without specific family interview for patient and family caregiver dyad. In the BFCC group, four 90-min BFCC programme sessions were additionally provided twice a week for each hospitalized family dyad. We hypothesized that, first, family caregivers in the BFCC group could increase their family function, and second, improve perceived health status and reduce caregiver's burdens compared to the TAU. The results showed that family caregivers in the BFCC group significant interaction effects in overall family function (P = 0.03) and subscale conflict (P = 0.04), communication (P = 0.01), and problem-solving (P = 0.04), but there were no significant interaction effects on the caregivers' perceived health status and caregivers' burdens. Our findings support both the feasibility of using the BFCC programme for inpatients and its specific benefits for family function. An intensive family intervention during hospitalization has been suggested in psychiatric practice to support patients with BPD and family caregivers.

Effects of family nursing conversations on families in home health care: A controlled before‐and‐after study

“…Studies with control group design, however, are still scarce. The existing evidence suggests that conversations based on Family Systems Nursing can improve families’ perceptions of the support they receive from professional caregivers (Petursdottir & Svavarsdottir, 2019; Sveinbjarnardottir et al., 2013) and may also improve family functioning (Lee et al., 2018; Sundin et al., 2016) and possibly health‐related quality of life (Lämås et al., 2016) and caregiver burden (Petursdottir & Svavarsdottir, 2019). Results are, however, somewhat inconsistent with respect to these outcomes (Dorell et al., 2017; Faarup et al., 2019; Østergaard et al., 2018).…”

Scoping Review of Family Interventions That Support the Physical Health of Caregivers

“…It is salient to highlight that psychoeducation programs alone are unlikely to lead to improvement in carers’ physical health as evidenced in Gutierrez-Maldonado et al’s (2009) study. Similarly, a family education intervention with no specific health intervention also showed no improvement in carers’ health perception (Lee et al, 2018).…”

Generalities About Caring Mental Illness and Impact on Family Caregivers in Chinese Community: A Ten Years Narrative Review Study

“…Has also shown the benefit of such intervention on both caregivers and the sick relatives. It was seen that this program reduced the caregivers burden and increased the family functioning and has improved health status of caregivers who benefited on this program meanwhile if this program is integrated in mental healthcare management it could help both patients and their caregivers [39].…”