title: Long-term impact of the life goals group therapy program for bipolar patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychoeducation added to biological treatment enhances overall effectiveness in bipolar disorders. Here, we evaluated the long-term impact of a 2-phase structured psycho-educative group program (Life Goals Program or LGP) for bipolar patients, on parameters such as number and length of hospitalizations, mood stability, relapse prevention and social relationships.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five patients (55 females, 30 males) with bipolar disorder (48 bipolar I, 37 bipolar II) were included retrospectively. Fifty patients participated in phase 1 and 35 participated in phases 1 and 2 of the LGP. Impact on the number and cumulative length of hospitalization was evaluated by comparing the 3-year period before and after participation in phase 1 (6 weeks) or phases 1 and 2 (median duration 24 months, range 3-74).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Number of hospitalizations significantly decreased from the 3-year period before to the 3-year period after participation in phase 1 only (p=0.017), as well as participation in both phases (p=0.035). After attending phase 1 or phases 1 and 2, a majority of participants reported subjective improvement in mood stability, efficient prevention of relapse and better coping with relapse. Perceived improvement of social relationships was significantly higher for patients who attended phases 1 and 2 than for participants in phase 1 only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uncontrolled retrospective study design.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that both phase 1 only and the full 2-phase LGP have long-term positive effects on the number of hospitalizations, mood stability and relapse prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Bipolar Program, Geneva University Hospitals, 8, rue du 31 décembre, 1207 Geneva, Switzerland. jean-michel.aubry@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aubry
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charmillot
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aillon
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mertel
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nerfin
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romailler
authors.forename: Marie-Joelle
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stauffer
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gex-Fabry
authors.forename: Rachel Denis
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: de Andrés
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention