title: Evaluation of a peer-led mutual support group for Chinese families of people with schizophrenia.
abstract: Family interventions in schizophrenia have shown positive effects on patients but little attention has been paid to their effects on family members, particularly those in non-Western countries. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of a bi-weekly, 12-session, family-led mutual support group for Chinese caregivers of schizophrenia sufferers over 6 months compared with standard psychiatric care. It was conducted with 76 families of outpatients with schizophrenia in Hong Kong of whom 38 were assigned randomly to either a mutual support group or standard care. Families' psychosocial health status and patients' symptom severity and length of re-hospitalizations at recruitment, one-week and 12-month post-intervention were compared between groups. Results of repeated-measures mixed model indicated that the mutual support group experienced significantly greater improvements in families' burden, functioning and number of support persons and length of patients' re-hospitalizations at two post-tests. The findings provide evidence that mutual support groups can be an effective family-initiated, community-based intervention for Chinese schizophrenia sufferers.
authors.affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 7/F., Esther Lee Building, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong. wtchien@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Wai-Tong
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Norman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012657:Self-Help Groups