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Family-Based Intervention for Schizophrenic Patients in China

A Randomised Controlled Trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Wei Xiong ,
M. R. Phillips ,
Xiong Hu ,
Ruiwen Wang ,
Qinqing Dai ,
J. Kleinman  and
A. Kleinman
Wei Xiong
Affiliation:
Shashi City Veterans Psychiatric Hospital, Shashi, China
M. R. Phillips
Affiliation:
Shashi City Veterans Psychiatric Hospital, and Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
Xiong Hu*
Affiliation:
Shashi City Veterans Psychiatric Hospital
Ruiwen Wang
Affiliation:
Shashi City Veterans Psychiatric Hospital
Qinqing Dai
Affiliation:
Shashi City Veterans Psychiatric Hospital
J. Kleinman
Affiliation:
Harvard Medical School
A. Kleinman
Affiliation:
Harvard Medical School
*
Wei Xiong, Department of Community Medicine, Shashi City Veterans Psychiatric Hospital, 78 Ta Qiao Road, Shashi, Hubei 434000, China
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Abstract

Background.

We developed and evaluated a comprehensive, ongoing intervention for families of schizophrenic patients appropriate for China's complex family relationships and unique social environment.

Method.

Sixty-three DSM–III–R schizophrenic patients living with family members were enrolled when admitted to hospital and randomly assigned to receive standard care or a family-based intervention that included monthly 45-minute counselling sessions focused on the management of social and occupational problems, medication management, family education, family group meetings, and crisis intervention.

Results.

At 6, 12, and 18-month follow-ups by blind evaluators, the proportion of subjects rehospitalised was lower, the duration of rehospitalisation was shorter, and the duration of employment was longer in the experimental group than in the control group; these differences were statistically significant at the 12 and 18-month follow-ups and were not explained by differences in drug compliance. Family intervention was associated with significantly lower levels of family burden.

Conclusions.

This intervention is less costly than standard treatment, is suitable for urban families of schizophrenic patients in China and feasible given the constraints of the Chinese mental health system.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 165 , Issue 2 , August 1994 , pp. 239 - 247
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994 

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