Investigation of the Effects of Family-Focused Therapy in the Early Period of Bipolar Disorder and Psychotic Disorder
Condition: Mental Disorder in Adolescence; Bipolar Disorder; Psychosis; Family Relations
MeSH terms: Bipolar Disorder; Psychotic Disorders; Mental Disorders
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Family-focused therapy (FFT) is a comprehensive therapy approach applied to individuals and
      their families. In the present study, the researchers aimed to investigate the effects of
      family-focused therapy (FFT) in the early stages of psychotic disorder and bipolar disorder,
      regarding the psychiatric symptomatology, family communication skills, coping capacities,
      family burden and quality of life. A total of 34 young people diagnosed with bipolar disorder
      (BD) and 17 psychotic disorders (PD) will be included in the study.
    

Detailed description: 
      In this study, the researcher's primary goal is to investigate the effects of family-focused
      therapy sessions on young people aged between 15 and 21. Subjects were referred to an early
      intervention center for psychotic and bipolar disorders. The target population of the study
      consists of the patients in remission after the episode of the illness.

      Therapy sessions will be conducted in line with the manual for "Family Focused Therapy for
      High-Risk Adolescents and Young Adults for Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis" revised by
      Miklowitz et al. in 2018. FFT will be completed in nine sessions. The first module of the
      program consists of three sessions, which consists of group psychoeducation for the patients
      and families. The second and third modules also include three sessions in each to teach
      communication skills and problem-solving skills in individual therapy sessions including
      patients and their families. Sessions will be held once a week and completed in nine weeks.

      Within the scope of this program, non-therapist clinicians will evaluate the participants'
      symptoms, psychosocial functioning, insight, and treatment compliance before and after the
      therapy sessions.

      There are only a few previous studies investigating the effects of family therapy in early
      stages of bipolar disorder and psychotic disorder. According to the literature, no prior
      study compares the effects of FFT between BD and PD populations. This study is important in
      terms of developing effective strategies for management of psychosocial difficulties in early
      phases of BD and PDs.
    

Intervention name(s): Family-Focused Therapy
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): After the patient and family are informed, they are included in the therapy group on a voluntary basis. After evaluation by independent evaluators, therapy sessions are started by therapists.
Session 1: Goal Setting, Treatment Overview, Symptoms, Vulnerability Stress Model Session 2: Stress and Coping Skills, Regulation of sleep habits, Relaxation exercises Session 3: Optimizing Family Support; Prevention Plan, Medication adherence Session 4: Overview of Communication Skills; Expressing Positive Feelings, Active Listening Session 5: Making Positive Requests for Change, Communication Clarity Session 6: Expressing Negative Feelings Session 7: Introduction to Problem Solving Skills Session 8 and 9: Problem Solving Skills, Termination of Treatment The same psychometric assessment will be repeated before and after FFT. Intra-group comparisons will be made. Also study groups will be compared using time by group interactions to investigate the differences in therapy response.
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: It is aimed to examine the effects of family-focused therapy, which will be applied in the early period to individuals who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and psychotic disorder and who have achieved remission, and their families. It will be carried out using the guide "Family-Focused Therapy for High-Risk Adolescents and Young Adults for Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis" revised by Miklowitz et al. in 2018. In terms of practical application, the sessions will be psychoeducational sessions that will be held in groups of 3 sessions, 3 sessions with the youth and the family. communication skills sessions to be held individually and 3 sessions as problem solving skills sessions to be held individually with the youth and family will be completed in 9 sessions. Sessions will be held once a week and all sessions will be completed in 9 weeks.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: family focused therapy; bipolar disorder; psychotic disorder; child; adolescent; early intervention