Francesc Colom1,2, Eduard Vieta1,3, José Sánchez‐Moreno1,4, Anabel Martı́nez-Arán1, María Reinares1, J.M. Goikolea1,3, Jan Scott2
1Bipolar Disorders Program, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques Agustí Pi Sunyer, Barcelona Stanley Foundation Center Barcelona
2Psychological Treatments Research, Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
3Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona
4Psychiatry Department, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Tóm tắt
Objective: To determine the effect on the serum lithium levels of a psychoeducational program in patients with bipolar disorder.Method: This is a subanalysis of data obtained from a larger study on the efficacy of group psychoeducation in the prophylaxis of recurrences in bipolar disorders. Data on plasma lithium levels were obtained at five time points: baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Serum lithium levels of patients who had received psychoeduction (psychoeducated) (N = 49) and non‐psychoeducated patients (N = 44) were compared.Results: Mean serum lithium levels were significantly higher and more stable for the psychoeducation group.Conclusions: As changes in serum lithium level may be a powerful predictor of recurrence for bipolar patients, the addition of group psychoeducation to standard pharmacological treatment may be beneficial to optimize serum lithium levels and, thereby improve outcome.
