The long-term outcomes of an effectiveness trial of group versus individual psychoeducation for bipolar disorders

Abstract Background In this effectiveness trial we compared the long-term effects on hospitalizations of group psychoeducation (GP) versus individual psychoeducation (IP) for a heterogeneous sample of patients with BD recruited from general clinical settings. Methods Eighty-five patients with BD were randomized to receive 10 weekly sessions of GP followed by 8 booster-sessions over the next two years, or three sessions of IP. Time to first admission over the course of GP was the primary outcome measure, with additional outcomes examining the use of psychiatric services over about 8 years. Results Patients allocated to GP had longer survival time compared to IP over 27 months (p