The Role of Family-Focused Therapy in Enhancing the Quality of Life among Patients with Bipolar Disorder and Their Key Caregivers in the Context of Frequent Relapse

Abstract

Background: Family-focused treatment (FFT) for bipolar disorder adapts family therapy from schizophrenia, highlighting the bidirectional stressors that affect both family coping and symptom severity, as well as relapse risk. The main goal is to improve family functioning through communication, problem-solving activities, coping skills training, and psychoeducation. Bipolar episodes disrupt family dynamics, affecting family members' emotional and communication styles. Family dynamics are disrupted by FFT. Objective: In the present study, we aim to determine the efficacy of Family Focused Therapy in improving the quality of life of caregivers and patients of BPAD with relapse histories. Methodology: The study employed a case-control design, selecting 20 bipolar patients with a history of frequent relapses (at least two episodes). It took place at the Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry & Allied Sciences. Caregivers were divided into two groups of 10: The Experimental Group, which received Family Focused Therapy (FFT), and the Control Group, whose patients received Treatment as Usual (TAU). We conducted eight FFT sessions over two months. Result: The t-test results indicated that before treatment, the quality-of-life differences between caregivers and patients in both the experimental and control groups were comparable, with no significant differences (p > 0.05), except for caregivers’ general health (t = 2.209). Post-treatment, significant differences in quality of life were observed between the two groups (p < 0.05), except for patients' general health (t = 2.002, p > 0.05). Furthermore, both caregivers and patients significantly differed in quality of life after follow-up assessments (p = 0.05). Conclusion: Research shows that patients who receive only routine pharmacological treatment, without family therapy, are more likely to relapse. Caregiving often involves physical and psychological stress and affects social relationships, financial circumstances, and employment status. Family caregivers’ emotional as well as physical health is negatively impacted by unexpected behavioural abnormalities in patients with persistent mental disorders. Interventions were shown to improve long-term adjustment by identifying relapse triggers in the present study.