Functioning Management & Recovery - Resource Group, a psychoeducational intervention to improve empowerment of people with severe mental illness: a 12-month multicenter randomized control study.

What was studied

This study tested a group program called FM&R-GR. It is described as a psychoeducational program for people with severe mental illness. Its aim was to improve functioning and empowerment. The study took in 60 people from 5 day centers in Italy. People were put by chance into 2 groups. One group used a highly structured manual. The other group used a less structured one. Tests were done at the start and after 12 months.

What they found

Of the 60 people, all but one began the study. People had schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms, or personality disorders. Not everyone stayed to the end. In the structured group, 27 people finished. In the other group, 21 people finished. Scores for empowerment, distress and social functioning got better. These gains were clear in the tests used. In the structured group, some other scores did not change by a clear amount. These covered symptoms and thinking.

What it means for patients

The authors say scores rose in all areas after 1 year. They report clear gaps between groups in empowerment, functioning and distress. In the structured group, all scores but one got better from start to end. Only mental flexibility did not show a clear gain. The authors conclude the structured program had a strong effect on its main goals.

Why it is not certain yet

The study had 60 people, which limits how sure one can be. Not everyone finished the study. People came from day centers in Italy alone. Parts of the abstract seem to clash about which scores changed. The abstract also does not say how large the gaps were.

Source

Functioning Management & Recovery - Resource Group, a psychoeducational intervention to improve empowerment of people with severe mental illness: a 12-month multicenter randomized control study.

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