Effectiveness of a psychoeducational intervention in reducing burden in informal caregivers of schizophrenic patients (EDUCA-III-OSA)

Abstract

Families of patients with schizophrenia usually experience negative consequences. The aim of the EDUCA-III-OSA study is to test the effectiveness of a psychoeducational intervention program (PIP) to reduce the caregiver burden at post-intervention (4 months) and at follow-up (16 months). A multicentre quasi-experimental study design with a unique group of informal caregivers who received intervention was used. The intervention consisted of 12 weekly group sessions. The primary outcome variable was burden, measured through the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire (IEQ). Secondary outcome variables were anxiety (STAI-X), mental health (GHQ-28), and depression (CES-D). 39 caregivers from 5 research sites participated in the study. After the intervention (4 months), the variables of burden (Cohen’s d = 0.26), depression (d = 0.42), mental health (d = 0.76), and anxiety-state (d = 0.59) showed a moderate decrease. These improvements increased 16 months later in the variables of burden (d = 0.56) and anxiety-state (d = 0.89), while the mental health variable decreased (d = 0.39). After the application of the intervention program a marked improvement in the psychological status of informal caregivers was produced. These changes held one year later.