Randomised-control trial of family intervention for 78 first-episode male schizophrenic patients. An 18-month study in Suzhou, Jiangsu.

At the time of discharge from their first stay in psychiatric hospital, 78 male schizophrenic patients were randomly assigned to a family intervention (experimental) group or a 'standard care' control group and were followed for the next 18 months. The family intervention consisted of both group and individual counselling sessions every 1-3 months that focused on education about the illness and on methods of dealing with the patient. There was a significantly lower rate of hospital readmission in the family intervention group than in the control group (15.4% versus 53.8%, chi 2 = 12.75, P < 0.01), and the mean hospital-free period for those who were readmitted was significantly longer in the experimental group than in the control group (245 days versus 130 days, t = 2.91, P < 0.01). Moreover, the clinical status and overall level of functioning in patients who were not readmitted were significantly better in experimental subjects than in control subjects. Stratified analysis showed that family intervention and regular use of medication had independent and additive effects on the outcome. During the 18 months after the index discharge patients who did not take medication regularly and who did not receive family intervention were 7.9 times as likely to be readmitted to hospital as patients who took medication regularly and received family intervention.