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David E. Pollio, PhD1, Jennifer McClendon, MSW1, Donna Reid, MSW2, and Carol S. North, MD, MPE3. (1) George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, One Brookings Dr., Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, (314) 935-7516, depollio@gwbmail.wustl.edu, (2) School of Social Work, Washington University, One Brookings Dr., Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, (3) School of Medicine, Washington University, Department of Psychiatry, 660 S Euclid, CB 8134, Renard Building, Room 2210, St. Louis, MO 63110
Purpose: Multifamily Psychoeducation groups have been empirically validated in highly controlled clinical settings, but not in community settings where dissemination occurs. This presentation describes 24-month outcomes for “PsychoEducation Responsive to Families” (PERF), a year-long multi-family group model, conducted through the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of St. Louis. Each PERF group determined its own unique curriculum, drawing from a standardized manual. Families were eligible regardless of the psychiatric diagnosis of their member with the illness (FMI). Methods: Families were recruited from community workshops and randomly assigned to either PERF or a comparison condition consisting of a scripted family education program of similar intensity. Families were assessed at intake, 12- and 24-months for family burden/coping, knowledge/mastery, service use, quality of life, FMI medication compliance, and FMI social relationships. The study enrolled 189 families, 123 to PERF and 66 to the comparison condition. This presentation reports baseline, 12-month, and 24-month follow-up data. T-tests and regression analyses were conducted: (a) for PERF participants, comparing intake versus 12- and 24-months and 12- versus 24-months, and (b) between PERF and comparison conditions comparing intake versus 24-months. Results: PERF families demonstrated broad positive outcomes at 12-month follow-up and further incremental improvement at 24-months. Families also demonstrated decreased burden and increased coping relative to the comparison condition at 24-months. Discussion: Results indicated that the PERF intervention was as successful in improving long-term outcomes for families and their FMI. The findings demonstrate the potential for PERF in “real world” settings.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.