Therapy with family may help people with schizophrenia who drink or use drugs.
HelpedThe short version
People in the programme group were doing better overall than people on routine care alone.
- 36
- adults with schizophrenia and drug or alcohol problems
- Randomised
- groups picked at random
- Self-rated
- people rated themselves
- 2 tools
- tested
The study
Who took part
36 patients took part, each with a family member or carer, in three health services in northwest England. Most were men, about 31 years old on average, and all were White European.
What they did
Everyone got routine psychiatric care. One group also had a nine-month programme. It had three parts: talking to help people want to change, therapy to challenge unhelpful thoughts, and family sessions.
What happened
At 9 and 12 months, overall functioning was better in the programme group. By 12 months, 6 of 18 people in that group had a relapse (a hospital stay or flare-up), against 12 of 18. Across the study, the share of days without drugs or alcohol rose more in that group, though not at any single check.
What the study found
- HelpedOther outcomes
People in the programme group were doing better overall than people on routine care alone.
- Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
- Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
- Rule: With a coach or therapistused
Small randomised trial of 36 adults with schizophrenia and drug or alcohol problems · vs people on routine care alone · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show
- HelpedGoals
Over the study, the programme group's share of days without drugs or alcohol rose more than the other group's.
- Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
- Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
- Rule: With a coach or therapistused
Small randomised trial of 36 adults with schizophrenia and drug or alcohol problems · vs people on routine care alone · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show
- HelpedOther outcomes
Fewer people in the programme group had a relapse by 12 months than in the other group.
- Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
- Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
- Rule: With a coach or therapistused
Small randomised trial of 36 adults with schizophrenia and drug or alcohol problems · vs people on routine care alone · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show
How solid is this?
- Groups picked at random
- Small group
- People rated themselves
- Summary claims more than the results show
Source
Randomized Controlled Trial of Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Family Intervention for Patients With Comorbid Schizophrenia and Substance Use Disorders (2001)
