The effect of group psycho-educational program on quality of life in families of patients with mood disorders

Abstract

Background: Mood disorders related behaviors are imposed on family members and infl uence the family’s mental atmosphereand level of quality of life. Therefore, the researchers decided to study the effect of group psycho-educational program on thequality of life in families of patients with mood disorders.

Materials and Methods: This is a two-group interventional study conducted on 32 members of families of the patients with mooddisorders selected through random sampling. A group psycho-educational program was conducted in ten 90-min sessions (twicea week) for the study group. (World Health Organization’s Quality of Life-BREF WHOQOL-BREF ) questionnaire was adopted inthe study and was fi lled before, immediately after, and 1 month after the intervention.

Results: Independent t-test showed a signifi cant difference in the scores of quality of life in the domains of mental health, socialcommunications, and environmental health, immediately after and 1 month after intervention in the study group compared to thecontrol group. Repeated measure analysis of variance showed a signifi cant increase in the mean scores of quality of life in thestudy group.

Conclusions: The results showed that the impact of group psycho-educational program is observed in the prevention of reductionin quality of life and its promotion in the families of patients with mood disorders.

Key words: Affective disorders, group psychotherapy, Iran, quality of life, relatives