A Meta-Analysis of Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Group Psychoeducation for Treating Symptoms and Preventing Relapse in People Living with Bipolar Disorder.

Objectives

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the treatment outcomes of patients treated with Group cognitive behavioural therapy (GCBT) or group psychoeducation (GPE) as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy.

Methods

Systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL from inception till 1 March 2022 was conducted. Randomized-controlled-trials (RCTs) comparing GCBT/GPE with controls (treatment-as-usual/individualized therapy) in adults with bipolar disorder were eligible. The outcomes were relapse rates of any depressive or manic episodes and control of depressive and manic symptoms post-intervention. Overall odds-ratio was used to evaluate the relapse rates. Standard Mean Differences were pooled using a random-effects model for the control of depressive and manic symptoms.

Results

25 articles were assessed full-text independently by two members, and 11 studies were included in this meta-analysis. 601 and 590 participants were randomized into group-therapy (GCBT/GPE) and control, respectively. GPE significantly reduces relapse rates at post-intervention with Odds ratio of 0.43 (95% CI = 0.28-to-0.62, p < 0.0001) (I² = 41%) compared to control, however, no significant results were found for GPE on control of depressive or manic symptoms. No significant results were found for GCBT in all outcomes.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis provides some evidence that GPE could be an efficacious treatment as an adjunct to treatment-as-usual in reducing the relapse rates of patients with bipolar disorder.