Social problem solving in carers of young people with a first episode of psychosis: a randomized controlled trial

AIM: Caring for young people with first‐episode psychosis is difficult and demanding, and has detrimental effects on carers' well‐being, with few evidence‐based resources available to assist carers to deal with the problems they are confronted with in this situation. We aimed to examine if completion of a self‐directed problem‐solving bibliotherapy by first‐time carers of young people with first‐episode psychosis improved their social problem solving compared with carers who only received treatment as usual. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was carried out through two early intervention psychosis services in Melbourne, Australia. A sample of 124 carers were randomized to problem‐solving bibliotherapy or treatment as usual. Participants were assessed at baseline, 6‐ and 16‐week follow‐up. RESULTS: Intent‐to‐treat analyses were used and showed that recipients of bibliotherapy had greater social problem‐solving abilities than those receiving treatment as usual, and these effects were maintained at both follow‐up time points. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings affirm that bibliotherapy, as a low‐cost complement to treatment as usual for carers, had some effects in improving their problem‐solving skills when addressing problems related to the care and support of young people with first‐episode psychosis.