Involving family in psychosis treatment leads to better patient outcomes, research suggests

Involving family in psychosis treatment leads to better patient outcomes, research suggests

Involving family in the treatment of psychosis leads to better treatment outcomes, according to new research from Boston Medical Center. The researchers, published in ScienceDirect, highlight that learning to use communication skills for motivational interviewing can help caregivers reduce conflict and expressed emotions and improve adherence.

Research has shown that families who understand the nature of psychosis symptoms and interventions can support treatment adherence by providing instrumental support with tasks such as scheduling and driving to appointments, filling prescriptions, and communicating with providers about symptoms or behaviors.

The goal is not for the nurse to become the therapist for the person with psychosis, but rather for the nurse to learn and use communication strategies based on motivational interviewing to reduce expressed emotions and play a more effective role in connecting the person with psychosis to relevant clinical services.

With the results of this study, we hope to understand how supportive home environments can improve treatment outcomes across all diagnoses.”

Emily R. Kline, MD, director of psychological services in the Wellness and Recovery After Psychosis Program at Boston Medical Center and associate professor of psychiatry at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

The study is a pilot randomized controlled trial testing the effects of Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones (MILO), a brief five-hour psychoeducational intervention for caregivers, in a sample of family members of individuals with early-stage psychosis. Using a randomized crossover design, caregivers were randomized to receive either immediate family motivational interviewing or a six-week waitlist control condition – all participants eventually received the intervention.

The results of this study showed that caregiver participants experienced large and significant improvements in caregiver well-being, caregiver self-efficacy, family conflict, and expressed emotions. There was no change in caregiver-reported patient adherence over time. Compared to waitlist, MILO had significant effects on family conflict and expressed emotions, a trend effect on perceived stress, and no effect on parental self-efficacy or treatment adherence. Researchers believe that interventions that involve and counsel family members can improve patient outcomes by creating a less stressful and more supportive home environment.

Source:

Boston Medical Center

Reference:

Kline, E.R., et al. (2022) Motivational interviewing for family members: Randomized controlled trial of a short training course for caregivers of first-episode psychosis. Schizophrenia research. doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2022.10.005.

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