Family therapy cut relapse in the first year of treatment

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   1,467 patients in 18 family therapy trials, average age about 31. Eight CBT trials, which challenge unhelpful thoughts, had 528 or 393 patients, average age about 34.

2. 02

   What they did

   Family therapy had at least six sessions, with one family or a group of families. The other groups got standard care or other treatments, such as supportive counselling. CBT was compared in the same way.

3. 03

   What happened

   Compared with other treatments, family therapy cut relapses and trips back to hospital. It also helped people take medicine, though only just, and CBT showed better mental state later on. Family therapy did not raise suicide or ease strain on relatives.

What the review found

1. Helped

   In five trials, family therapy got patients to take medicine more than other care did.

   Pooled analysis of 5 studies with 393 people · vs people given usual care or other treatments · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source