Is structured group psychoeducation for bipolar patients effective in ordinary mental health services? A controlled trial in Italy.

Background: Recent reviews of evidence-based guidelines for the clinical management of Bipolar Disorders (BD) have recommended that "all patients with BD be offered group or individual psychoeducation" to prevent relapse, improve treatment adherence, quality of life, and functioning. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of psychoeducation in routine mental health services in reducing number of hospitalisations and number of days spent in hospital, at a 1-year follow-up.

Methods: A total of 102 outpatients were recruited from two Italian Departments of Mental Health.