Six-session caregiver psychoeducation on bipolar disorder: Does it bring benefits to caregivers?

Abstract

A six-session caregiver psychoeducational intervention on bipolar disorder did not bring benefits to caregiver's health. A longer longitudinal follow-up study would be crucial to see whether there were differences in degree of burden, perceived self-esteem and quality of life over time in caregivers.

The lived experience of caring for someone with bipolar disorder: A qualitative study

“…This highlights the need for increased awareness of the support needs of BD carers and their families by healthcare professionals. As such, BD carers should be offered psychological support and psychoeducation by healthcare providers, including carer services such as ARAFMI [ 30 ]. Carers reported difficulties with treatment plans and suggestions from healthcare professionals being impractical for the wider needs of the family “unit” and ignoring responsibilities and roles the person with BD had, for example, as a parent.…”

“…The primary focus of interventions and programs for carers of individuals diagnosed with BD has previously been on psychoeducation, both in-person [26,[29][30][31] interventions through counselling and organisations such as ARAFMI [32], a mental health carer organisation and online programs [33][34][35]. Whilst psychoeducation has been shown to have some effect on improving the experience and reducing the burden for carers of people with severe mental illnesses post-treatment [36], there are still some concerns in the literature around how long these benefits last [37] and the most effective form of delivery [38].…”

Effects of Psychoeducation Applied to Caregivers of Patients Diagnosed with Chronic Psychiatric Disorder on Caregivers’ Difficulties and Psychosocial Adaptations

“…Tanrıverdi ve Ekinci'nin [39] (2012) 31 şizofreni hastalarının bakım verenleri ile yaptıkları bir başka çalışmada ise psikoeğitimin bakım veren yükünü önemli ölçüde azalttığı ve etkili bir terapötik strateji olduğu belirtilmiştir. Buna karşın bazı çalışmalarda ise bakım verenlerin hastalık hakkındaki bilgi düzeyleri ile bakım yükü arasında anlamlı bir ilişki olmadığı, [12,40] diğer bazı çalışmalarda ise bakım verenlerin hastalık hakkındaki bilgi düzeyi arttıkça aile yükünün arttığı belirtilmektedir. [41] Bu çalışmada ise uygulama ve kontrol grubunda yer alan bakım verenlerin eğitim öncesi ve sonrası bakım verme yükü puan ortalamaları arasında fark bulunamamıştır.…”

Psychosocial interventions for carers of people with severe mental and substance use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Three studies on carers of persons with schizophrenia/ psychosis/schizophrenia spectrum disorder [31][32][33], and one study on carers of persons with bipolar disorder [34], found a modest positive effect. A positive effect of the interventions was not found in three studies on carers of persons with schizophrenia/psychosis/ schizophrenia spectrum disorder [35][36][37], and in three studies on carers of persons with bipolar disorder [38][39][40].…”

“…A psychoeducational program was implemented in 11 studies, either as a single-family [70][71][72] or as a group approach [20,75]. All studies except one [38] reported a positive effect of the intervention on considered outcomes (i.e., improvement of levels of burden, selfefficacy, and/or quality of life).…”