Effectiveness of a brief family strengths-oriented therapeutic conversation intervention for patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers

Purpose To examine the effects of a brief family strengths-oriented therapeutic conversation (FAM-SOTC) intervention on symptom severity of patients with schizophrenia and family coping and caregiver burden for family caregivers. Design A quasi-experimental research design with repeated measures. Methods A convenience sample of 72 dyads of patient-family caregivers was recruited from randomized inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation units in a psychiatric hospital in Taiwan. Sixty-one patient-family caregiver dyads that comprised the intervention group (n = 29) and control group (n = 32) completed questionnaires at four time points (baseline, immediate, one- and three-months post-intervention). Demographic questionnaires and clinical information, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Family Crisis-Orientation Personal Evaluation Scales, and Zarit Burden Interview were used to collect data. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the differences in symptom severity, family coping, and caregiver burden between the two groups. Findings As compared to the control group, the intervention group showed statistically significant improvements over three months in symptom severity as well as family coping, especially acquiring social support, reframing, and mobilizing social support for family caregivers. Caregiver burden in the intervention group was ameliorated immediately and one month after the intervention rather than a three-month post-intervention. Conclusions A brief FAM-SOTC intervention proved to be favorable for alleviating psychiatric symptoms of patients coupled with an improvement in family coping and burden in family caregivers encountering schizophrenia. Clinical relevance Integration of a brief family therapeutic conversation intervention into the routine psychiatric rehabilitation services delivery is recommended to help patients and their family caregivers effectively manage schizophrenia.