Patients' Perspective of the Impacts of Group Psychoeducation for Bipolar Disorder

Little is known regarding the mechanisms involved in the clinical improvement of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) after group psychoeducation. We aimed at investigating these mechanisms by focusing on their subjective experience. Thirteen patients with BD aged 35.54 (SD, 12.06) were recruited. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four high-order themes were identified: a) relationship among patients, b) effect of the facilitation style, c) program-related factors, and d) subjective impacts. "Relationships among patients" included a lower-ordered theme evoked by all participants, that is, "shared experiences." Shared experiences included acknowledging that BD has a neurobiological substrate and that its manifestations are similar in BD; the social support and empowering message of those who have managed to exert control over the illness were also highlighted. Our results shed some light on the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of group psychoeducation. The shared experience of patients seems to play an important role, probably through destigmatization.