title: Are multi family groups appropriate for patients with first episode psychosis? A 5-year naturalistic follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare outcome over 5 years for patients who participated in multi family groups (MFGs) to those who refused or were not offered participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 301 first episode psychotic patients aged 15-65 years, 147 participated in MFGs. Outcome was measured by drop-out rates, positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) symptom scores, and duration of psychotic episodes during the follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multi family group participants had a significantly lower drop-out rates at 5-year follow-up than patients who did not participate. However, the MFG participants had significantly less improvement in PANSS positive and excitative symptoms and had significantly longer duration of psychotic symptoms during the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multi family groups appear to increase the chance of retaining patients in a follow-up study, but adjustment of the programme may be necessary with first episode psychosis patients to meet their needs better.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Kirkevn, Oslo, Norway. j.i.rossberg@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Jan Ivar
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Rossberg
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Johannessen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Klungsoyr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Opjordsmoen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evensen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fjell
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Haahr
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Joa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langeveld
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Melle
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Rund
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simonsen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: ten Velden
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaglum
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McGlashan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult