ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Psychoeducation is now considered as part of the integrated treatment for bipolar disorder. But the psychological changes involved in it have been poorly studied. METHOD: We compared the locus of control (LOC, a key variable for health-related behaviours as well as for education practices), the knowledge about lithium [Lithium Knowledge Questionnaire (LKQ)] and attitude about lithium [Attitude towards Lithium Questionnaire (ALQ)] before and after a brief hospital based psychoeducational programme for euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (ICD-10 criteria) receiving lithium prophylaxis. The occurrence of hospitalisations was recorded during the two years before and after the patients underwent psychoeducation. All patients were reassessed after 24 months. RESULTS: 50 consecutive participants at a psychoeducational programme were evaluated. The LKQ but not the ALQ scores increased significantly after the programme. The external "powerful others" component of the LOC significantly increased after psychoeducation. The observed changes were maintained after 24 months. The patients' level of satisfaction was excellent and sustained. There was only a trend for a decrease in the rate of hospitalisations. LIMITATIONS: The knowledge about lithium was assessed with an experimental instrument. Patients followed in a university department may not be representative of bipolar patients at large. CONCLUSIONS: Psychoeducation enduringly increases the knowledge about lithium and induces long term changes in the locus of control that may reflect a shift in illness representations. The LOC may be an important target of psychoeducation for euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.
