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Although most psychiatric treatment guidelines recommend educating and intervening with families, there has been limited empirical study on the effectiveness of this commonly used intervention component, except in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Researchers in Japan conducted a small, randomized, controlled study of family psychoeducation's effect in 57 adults (mean age, 60) with major depression, who had responded partially or fully (mean score on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 13.6) to acute-phase antidepressant treatment and were in the continuation/maintenance phase of treatment.
All patients were receiving medication and supportive psychotherapy. In the intervention arm, the primary family member received sma…