Ultra-short versus short group therapy in addition to lithium

Pilot of group intervention for bipolar disorder

“…Van Gent et al [22], in a small randomised controlled study (n 034), confirmed the advantage of a few sessions of group psycho-education on selfconfidence, behaviour and social functioning but not on symptom reduction. A second study [23] confirmed these findings and recorded an added advantage in thinking and behaviour as measured on a symptom checklist in the group receiving the extended psycho-education plus psychotherapy intervention (10Á13 sessions). Colom et al [11] published the only large group-based intervention for bipolar disorder that has employed a randomized controlled design.…”

Effectiveness of Psychosocial Treatments in Bipolar Disorder: State of the Evidence

“…Treatment lasted an average (Ϯ SD) of 20.7 Ϯ 27.6 months, ranging from one 65,66 session to 132 months 61 at a mean intensity of 3.00 Ϯ 1.41 sessions per month. Seven studies (in eight reports) 58,59,61,62,65,66,71,72 of the 14 involved psychoeducation or other direct support of adherence to recommended maintenance use of mood-stabilizing medication; six 60,63,64,67 concerned interpersonal or process groups, and one 70 employed a cognitive-behavioral intervention. In seven studies 62-66,70-72 outcome assessments were clinical and impressionistic; seven others 58-61,67-69 used hospitalization rates or durations as objective outcome criteria.…”

“…Six of the studies date from the 1970s, seven from the 1980s, and 18 from the 1990s. Most were impressionistic clinical reports of psychosocial intervention without formal outcome measures, and only 13 29,62,66,71,76,79,80,82,[84][85][86][87][88][89] involved randomization to active therapy versus control or comparison conditions. With the exception of three studies, 64,73,79 all were conducted in outpatient settings.…”

Bipolar Disorders

“…Van Gent and colleagues (Van Gent, Vida & Zwart, 1988;Van Gent & Zwart, 1991, 1993 undertook two small-scale trials using a group therapy format for individuals with BP and one trial of psychoeducation for the partners of individuals with BP. The trials were carried out in a clinical setting and would not today meet the rigorous criteria required for randomized trials.…”

“…At 15-month follow-up both groups showed improved psychosocial functioning but the only between-group difference was that those receiving the extended intervention demonstrated a greater improvement in their thinking and behaviour as measured on a general symptom checklist. The last study by this group (Van Gent & Zwart, 1993) explored the benefits of providing five structured group sessions for 14 partners of individuals with BP and compared their knowledge of BP, its treatment and psychosocial management strategies over six months with 12 partners who were randomly allocated to a control condition. The study demonstrated that 'partner-only' education sessions led the experimental group to gain and sustain a significantly greater understanding of BP than those allocated to the control group.…”