title: A randomized trial to assess the efficacy of a psychoeducational intervention on caregiver burden in schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient's relatives usually care for patients with schizophrenia, and as informal caregivers they experience negative consequences. The aim of the EDUCA-III trial is to test the efficacy of a psychoeducational intervention program (PIP) versus standard care to reduce the caregiver burden at post-intervention (4 months), and at follow-up (8 months).
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-arm, evaluator blind, multicentre, randomized controlled trial. The PIP group had 12 weekly group sessions. The control intervention group had the usual support and standard care. Primary outcomes were change scores since baseline on the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire (IEQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and nine caregivers were randomized to PIP and 114 to control condition from 23 research sites. The decrease of ZBI scores was significantly higher on the PIP arm at 4 months (mean difference [MD]=-4.33; 95% CI -7.96, -0.71), and at 8 months (MD=-4.46; 95% CI -7.79, -1.13). There were no significant decreases in the IEQ scores (MD at 4 months=-2.80; 95% CI -6.27, 0.67; MD at 8 months=-2.85; 95% CI -6.51, 0.81).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PIP condition seems to reduce caregiver burden.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN32545295.
authors: Institute of Psychiatric Research, Bilbao, Spain; Padre Menni Psychiatric Centre, Pamplona, Spain; CIBER Mental Health, Spain.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Martín-Carrasco
authors: Psychosocial Rehabilitation Resource (Sisters Hospitallers), Madrid, Spain.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Fernández-Catalina
authors: Aita-Menni Hospital, Arrasate-Mondragón, Spain.
authors: A I
authors: AI
authors: Domínguez-Panchón
authors: Clínica Psiquiátrica de S. José (Sisters Hospitallers), Lisboa, Portugal; CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gonçalves-Pereira
authors: Institute of Psychiatric Research, Bilbao, Spain. Electronic address: iip@fundacion-iip.org.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: González-Fraile
authors: Padre Menni Psychiatric Centre, Pamplona, Spain.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Muñoz-Hermoso
authors: University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain; CIBER Mental Health, Spain.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ballesteros
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003376:Counseling; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Caregivers; Mental health; Randomized controlled trial; Schizophrenia