Impact of Family Psychoeducation on Psychosis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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There is currently no clear involvement of families/caregivers in the care for postpartum mothers that develop postpartum psychosis. The lack of knowledge on causes of postpartum psychosis may influence the nature of perceived social support that mothers receive from caregivers. It is hoped that the provision of a culturally adapted version of family psychoeducation will bridge the knowledge gap and provide the much needed information. We therefore hypothesized that the involvement of a family member of a postpartum mother with a psychotic illness in a weekly session of family psychoeducation.

Detailed Description
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Postpartum psychosis causes distress to the mother, baby, spouse and other primary caregivers. This is especially true for Uganda where cultural beliefs for the causation of the illness place blame on supposedly the postpartum mother's promiscuity during pregnancy (COX, 1979). Cultural perceptions on the causes of postpartum psychosis may affect the nature of social support the mothers perceive from their families when they develop the illness. Other perceptions regarding postpartum psychosis in Uganda lay blame on supernatural causes like witchcraft. Family psychoeducation which sets out to inform families of the nature of the illness is called for so as to demystify the illness.

Official Title
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The Role of Psychoeducation on Perceived Social Support of Postpartum Others With a Psychotic Illness

Conditions
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Postpartum Psychosis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: drug compliance
* Behavioral: Encouragement of drug compliance
* Behavioral: Family psychoeducation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Postpartum mothers with a psychiatric illness in the current postpartum period. Must have been admitted to the mental health facility for the current episode. Exclusion Criteria: Mothers residing out of a radius of 50 km away from the health facility. Mothers that do not have caregivers. Mothers who are not fluent in the language in which the study will be conducted.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 13 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Placebo Comparator: Encouragement on drug compliance<br>The intervention for the placebo comparator will be encouragement on drug compliance | Behavioral: drug compliance<br>* Mothers and their caregivers will be encouraged to comply with the given medication<br>* Other names: Psychosocial intervention;Behavioral: Encouragement of drug compliance<br>* Mothers and their caregivers in the placebo comparator will receive an intervention of drug compliance encouragement<br>* Other names: Psychosocial intervention;|
| Experimental: Family psychoeducation<br>The experimental group will receive weekly sessions of psychoeducation for 12 weeks in addition to receiving drug compliance encouragement | Behavioral: Family psychoeducation<br>* The experimental group will receive family psychoeducation for 12 sessions<br>* Other names: Psychosocial intervention;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| perceived social support of mothers | 12 weekly sessions of family psychoeducation for a period of 3 months will improve perceived social support of mothers in the intervention arm. | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Improvement of psychological distress of the caregivers | 12 weekly sessions of family psychoeducation with caregivers for a period of 3 months will improve psychological distress in caregivers of mothers that will have received family psychoeducation | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Postpartum psychosis, Perceived social support, Family psychoeducation