[Randomised controlled trial of a behavioural family intervention: 1 year and 11-years follow-up].
OBJECTIVE
To test the efficacy of a Behavioural Family Therapy (BFT) in a routine setting, both short and long term, of a community mental health service (CMHS).


METHODS
In a randomised clinical trial 24 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, as confirmed by PSE-IX, were assigned to the BFT according to Falloon (n = 12) or to individual usual treatment (n = 12). They were assessed before and at the end of the active treatment (after one year), and after an 11-years follow-up with compared on basic indicators (hospitalisations, length of stay, drop-out rate) and standardised instruments of psychopathological symptoms, social functioning, family burden.


RESULTS
At one-year follow-up clinical important and statistically significant differences were observed for psychotic positive symptoms (p<0.01), self-care (p<0.01), autonomy in daily life (p<0.001), subjective/objective family burden (p<0.001). Other psychosocial variables showed positive outcomes non reaching statistical significance. At the 11-year follow-up, marked differences were observed only in hospitalisations and drop-outs.


CONCLUSIONS
The BFT was rather easy to implement in a CMHS and very cost effective. However, as it has been shown in other studies, to keep all the benefits a consistent program of monitoring with booster sessions is essential.
Dipartimento di Salute Mentale di Campobasso, Campobasso.
Franco
F
Veltro
Lorenza
L
Magliano
Pierluigi
P
Morosini
Elvira
E
Fasulo
Giuseppe
G
Pedicini
Isabella
I
Cascavilla
Ian
I
Falloon
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome