Comparison of the Effectiveness of Family-Focused Therapy and Social Cognition and Interaction Training in Preventing the Relapse of Bipolar Disorder and Improving the Patient’s Interpersonal Relationships and Components Related to Social Functioning: Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Abstract Background: Bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) is characterized by periodic mood swings, including mania and depression. Family stress and cognitive defects are among the important factors in the relapse of this disorder. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of family-focused therapy (FFT) and social cognitive and interaction training (SCIT) in preventing BD-I relapse and improving the patient’s interpersonal relationships and components related to social functioning. Methods: This quasi-experimental study had a controlled, pretest-posttest, and three-month follow-up design. Sixty patients with BD-I, hospitalized in Zahedan Psychiatric Hospital (Zahedan, Iran), as well as one of their primary caregivers, were selected purposefully based on the inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to three groups. A total of 56 individuals completed all the study questionnaires until the follow-up. The SCIT group (consisting of only patients) and the FFT group (consisting of patients with a primary caregiver) each participated in 15 sessions of group interventions. The research tools were completed before the intervention, after the first session of the intervention, after the intervention, and in the follow-up. Results: The present results showed that the SCIT and FFT could equally improve relapse prevention and promote social functioning and its components, except for the component of interpersonal relationships, where SCIT was more effective than FFT in the posttest (β=3, P=0.034) and follow-up (β=5.043, P=0.001). Conclusion: According to the present results, since FFT is an evidence-based treatment for BD-I patients, SCIT can be used along with this intervention, as simultaneous attention to environmental factors and social cognitive defects can provide an opportunity to improve the social functioning of patients with BD-I, especially their interpersonal relationships.