Psychosis REACH: Effects of a Brief CBT-Informed Training for Family and Caregivers of Individuals With Psychosis

• Published in: Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 72; no. 11; pp. 1254 - 1260
• Main Authors: Kopelovich, Sarah L, Stiles, Bryan, Monroe-DeVita, Maria, Hardy, Kate, Hallgren, Kevin, Turkington, Douglas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Psychiatric Association 01.11.2021; American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc
• Subjects: Caregivers; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Cognitive therapy; Mental health; Mental health care; Psychosis; Studies; Training; United States > US; Cognitive therapy; Psychoses; Family support systems; Cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychosis; Schizophrenia; Psychoeducation; Family interventions for psychosis; Psychotic spectrum disorders
• ISSN: 1075-2730; 1557-9700; 1557-9700
• DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.202000740

Objective:Psychosis Recovery by Enabling Adult Carers at Home (Psychosis REACH) is a training for families of individuals with psychosis that consists of recovery-oriented psychosis psychoeducation, caregiver self-care, and skills training informed by cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBTp). The authors assessed the effects of a 1-day and a 4-day training on the natural supports (i.e., family and other caregivers) of individuals with psychotic disorders.Methods:Attendees of a 1-day (N=168) and a 4-day (N=29) Psychosis REACH training were surveyed at three timepoints: pretraining, posttraining, and 4-month follow-up. Longitudinal changes across the full sample were evaluated by paired-sample t tests or a one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Two-way mixed ANOVAs were conducted with training condition, time, and the training condition × time interactions entered into the model.Results:Reductions were noted in self-perceived depression, anxiety, negative aspects of the caregiving experience, and expressed emotion. Trainees also showed more prosocial attitudes toward psychosis immediately and at 4 months after the training.Conclusions:This evaluation of the launch of Psychosis REACH in the United States suggests that the training can improve the mental health, attitudinal, and relational outcomes of family and caregivers of individuals with psychosis. Given the dearth of CBTp and family interventions for psychosis in mental health services in the United States, short-term, intensive training that supplements clinical services has intuitive appeal as a means of surmounting the barriers that have plagued family interventions.