Group psychoeducation in bipolar disorder and its influence on the cognitive representation of illness and basic personality dimensions : a control group study

Aims: The study aims to determine whether participation in structured group psychoeducation has an influence on the cognitive representation of illness and whether the basic personality traits are mediating factors in the process of its potential change. Method: Initially, the study included 40 consecutive patients with the DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder: the first 20 were included in the study group and the following 20 in the control group. To take part in the study, all patients had to be in functional remission. The final statistical analysis includes 14 patients from each group. Cognitive representation of illness was presented in terms of the following variables: acceptance of illness, locus of health control, general self-efficacy, hope for success, and beliefs about the condition. The intervention used was a structured group psychoeducation program. It comprised eight 90-minute meetings that combined workshops and lectures. Both groups were tested at three points in time (before intervention in the study group, after the intervention, and 6 months later). Results: In the group who took part in the psychoeducation program, statistically significant positive changes were observed in the internal locus of health control, problem-solving, sense of self-efficacy and beliefs about bipolar disorder directly after the end of the program. Conscientiousness was identified as a partial mediator for change in the group in terms of the ability to problem-solve. Conclusions: Psychoeducation can have a positive effect on variables connected with cognitive representation of illness. Some personality variables can have an influence too. Both findings require further assessment in studies on larger groups, where clinical data should also be included in the analyses