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Needs-based cognitive-behavioural family intervention for patients suffering from schizophrenia: five-year follow-up of a randomised controlled effectiveness trial

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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  • Bill Sellwood
  • Anja Wittkowski
  • Nicholas Tarrier
  • Christine Barrowclough
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>12/2007
<mark>Journal</mark>Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Issue number6
Volume116
Number of pages6
Pages (from-to)447-452
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Objective:  To determine whether a 24-week, needs-based cognitive-behaviourally oriented family intervention for patients suffering from schizophrenia led to improved relapse profiles over a 5-year follow-up period.

Method:  The case notes of 60 patients who had participated in a randomized, controlled effectiveness trial were examined to determine relapse rates over a 5-year period.

Results:  Patients were less likely to relapse over the 5-year follow-up when they received the needs-based family intervention, especially in relation to exacerbations of symptoms not requiring inpatient admissions: 86.7% of control participants relapsed compared with 53.3% (P = 0.01). Survival analysis indicated that the relapse risk was 2.5 times higher for patients receiving routine care, compared with those receiving family intervention. A similar trend was observed for the final 4 years of follow-up.

Conclusion:  The present study provides some tentative support for the long-term effectiveness of family-based interventions for the management of schizophrenia in general mental health services.