Functional remediation in bipolar disorder: 1-year follow-up of neurocognitive and functional outcome

Background Few randomised clinical trials have examined the efficacy of an intervention aimed at improving psychosocial functioning in bipolar disorder. Aims To examine changes in psychosocial functioning in a group that has been enrolled in a functional remediation programme 1 year after baseline. Method This was a multicentre, randomised, rater-masked clinical trial comparing three patient groups: functional remediation, psychoeducation and treatment as usual over 1-year follow-up. The primary outcome was change in psychosocial functioning measured by means of the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST). Group x time effects for overall psychosocial functioning were examined using repeated-measures ANOVA (trial registration NCT01370668). Results There was a significant group x time interaction for overall psychosocial functioning, favouring patients in the functional remediation group (F=3.071, d.f.=2, P=0.049). Conclusions Improvement in psychosocial functioning is maintained after 1-year follow-up in patients with bipolar disorder receiving functional remediation. Copyright and usage (C) The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016.