Developing family psychoeducational treatments for patients with bipolar and other severe psychiatric disorders. A pathway from basic research to clinical trials.
Developing family treatments for patients with severe and persistent psychiatric disorder begins at the basic research level, through identifying psychosocial variables that have prognostic significance. Treatment protocols informed by this basic research can then be designed, manualized, and piloted. Next, the efficacy of a new treatment is examined, first in a randomized trial and then, if successful, in a community effectiveness study. We describe this treatment development pathway in a population for whom family attributes have prognostic importance: patients with bipolar affective disorder. The methodological complexities of psychosocial treatment studies are many. Moreover, the results of these studies often reflect interactions between treatment, process, and outcome variables.
Miklowitz
D J
DJ
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0345, USA. miklowitz@clipr.colorado.edu
Hooley
J M
JM
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D005192:Family Health; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008370:Manuals as Topic / Q000592:standards; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010934:Planning Techniques; D012107:Research Design; D055502:Secondary Prevention