Psychoeducation for bipolar II disorder: an exploratory, 5-year outcome subanalysis.
BACKGROUND
Bipolar II represents a significant subgroup of bipolar patients. However, there is limited evidence regarding the efficacy of pharmacological and/or psychosocial therapies.


METHODS
Post-hoc analyses were undertaken using data on 20 (out of 120) patients who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for BP II who had participated in a single-blind randomized controlled treatment trial (RCT) exploring the acute and long-term efficacy of group psychoeducation plus standard pharmacological treatment as compared with unstructured support groups plus standard pharmacological treatment. Eight BP II subjects had been randomized to a psychoeducation group and 12 to an unstructured support group.


RESULTS
Psychoeducated, as compared to control group bipolar II patients, had significantly better 5-year outcomes, with lower mean number of BP episodes (p<.02), hypomanic episodes (p<.03) and depressive episodes (p<.03), fewer days spent in mood episodes (p=.004) and higher mean levels of functioning (p<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Although these findings should be treated with caution, it appears that psychoeducation plus medication can benefit bipolar II subjects. Dedicated treatment trials will need to clarify whether these therapies require modifications in duration and/or content to meet the needs of bipolar II patients.
Colom
F
F
Bipolar Disorders Program, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Vieta
E
E
Sánchez-Moreno
J
J
Goikolea
J M
JM
Popova
E
E
Bonnin
C M
CM
Scott
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D035061:Control Groups; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012917:Social Adjustment; D016896:Treatment Outcome