title: Multiple-family groups and psychoeducation in the treatment of schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare outcomes in psychoeducational multiple-family group treatment vs psychoeducational single-family treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 172 acutely psychotic patients, aged 18 to 45 years, with DSM-III-R schizophrenic disorders were randomly assigned to single- or multiple-family psychoeducational treatment at six public hospitals in the state of New York. Psychotic relapse, symptom status, medication compliance, rehospitalization, and employment were assessed independently during 2 years of supervised treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The multiple-family groups yielded significantly lower 2-year cumulative relapse rates than did the single-family modality (16% vs 27%) and achieved markedly lower rates in patients whose conditions had not remitted at index hospital discharge (13% vs 33%). The relapse hazard ratio between treatments was 1:3. The relapse rate for both modalities was less than half the expected rate (65% to 80% for 2 years) for patients receiving individual treatment and medication. Rehospitalization rates and psychotic symptoms decreased significantly, and medication compliance was high, to an equal degree in both modalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychoeducational multiple-family groups were more effective than single-family treatment in extending remission, especially in patients at higher risk for relapse, with a cost-benefit ratio of up to 1:34.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology of Mental Disorders, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, USA.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lukens
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dushay
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Deakins
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Newmark
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education; D004651:Employment; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010359:Patient Readmission; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome