Validación Programa de Psicoeducación. I

Original Article
Stabilizing the stabilizer: group psychoeducation enhances the
stability of serum lithium levels

Colom F, Vieta E, Sánchez-Moreno J, Martínez-Arán A, Reinares M,
Goikolea JM, Scott J. Stabilizing the stabilizer: group psychoeducation
enhances the stability of serum lithium levels.
Bipolar Disord 2005: 7 (Suppl. 5): 32–36. ª Blackwell Munksgaard, 2005

Objective: To determine the effect on the serum lithium levels of a
psychoeducational program in patients with bipolar disorder.

Method: This is a subanalysis of data obtained from a larger study on
the effcacy of group psychoeducation in the prophylaxis of recurrences
in bipolar disorders. Data on plasma lithium levels were obtained at five
time points: baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Serum lithium levels of
patients who had received psychoeduction (psychoeducated) (N = 49)
and non-psychoeducated patients (N = 44) were compared.

Results: Mean serum lithium levels were significantly higher and more
stable for the psychoeducation group.

Conclusions: As changes in serum lithium level may be a powerful
predictor of recurrence for bipolar patients, the addition of group
psychoeducation to standard pharmacological treatment may be
beneficial to optimize serum lithium levels and, thereby improve
outcome.

F Colom 1),4), E Vieta 1), 2), J Sánchez-Moreno 1), 3), A Martínez-Arán 1),
M Reinares 1), JM Goikolea 1), 2) and J Scott 4)

1) Bipolar Disorders Program, Institut d’Investigacions Biome´diques Agustý´ Pi Sunyer,
Barcelona Stanley Foundation Center, Barcelona,
2)Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona,
3)Psychiatry Department, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain,
4) Psychological Treatments Research, Division of Psychological Medicine,
Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

Key words: bipolar disorder – blood serum –
lithium – patient non-adherence – psychotherapy

Corresponding author: Eduard Vieta, MD, PhD,
Director Bipolar Disorders Program, Clinical
Institute of Neuroscience, University Clinic
Hospital of Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036
Barcelona, Spain. Fax: +34932275477;
e-mail: evieta@clinic.ub.es

Bipolar Disorders 2005: 7(Suppl. 5): 32–36
Copyright (C) Blackwell Munksgaard 2005
BIPOLAR DISORDERS