1. 01
WINTER Template
Efficacy of Psychoeducation
in the treatment of
Unipolar Depression
MULTICENTER RCT
Alma Džubur Kulenović
Abdulah Kučukalić
Alma Bravo Mehmedbašić
Daniel Maleč
Stefan Priebe

2. Statement of Potential Conflicts of Interest
(Efficacy of Psychoeducation in the treatment of Unipolar Depression)
Relating to this presentation, no relationships could be perceived as
potential conflict of interests:
Alma Džubur Kulenović none
Abdulah Kučukalić none
Alma Bravo Mehmedbašić none
Daniel Maleč none
Stefan Priebe none
)

3. INTRODUCTION02
o Psychoeducation has been widely seen as an
attractive concept for more than 15 years.
o PE lends itself to be used in low resource settings.
o In the past decade, a noticeable interest of the
researchers in the topic of psychoeducation and
its efficacy in the treatment of unipolar depression
is present in the research literature.

4. INTRODUCTION
o Published results of methodologically sound studies
indicate to the method's efficacy in the reduction of
depressive symptoms and improvement of
functioning and quality of life of the subjects involved
in the studies.
o Nevertheless, the studies involving subjects from the
real clinical populations are scarce, and further
research is needed to justify the use of
psychoeducation as an adjunctive intervention in the
treatment of unipolar depression.

5. AIMS
o To compare the efficacy of psychoeducation for
depression based on Lewinsohn's Coping With
Depression Course as an adjunctive treatment, on
the depressive symptoms and quality of life in a
group of subjects diagnosed with unipolar
depression, compared with the same outcome
measures in a group of subjects who are receiving
Treatment as Usual.

6. METHODS 03
o The subjects were 120 adults, (age 18 – 65),
diagnosed with unipolar depression (F 32.0 – F
33.2, and F 33.0 – F 33.2 according to ICD 10),
who signed the informed consent to participate in
the study.
o The subjects were recruited in the study via the
pre-screening assessment from the outpatients
who were being treated at three different study
sites
o Department of Psychiatry of the Sarajevo University
Clinical Center,
o Community Mental Health Center Goražde
o Community Mental Health Center Brčko District

7. METHODS
o Eligible subjects were randomly allocated into two
groups of 60 subjects; the experimental group and the
control group.
o The subjects in the experimental group received an 8
sessions, 12 week course on Psychoeducation based
on Lewinsohn's Coping With depression Course
combined with Treatment as Usual (TAU).
o The subjects in the control group received TAU only.

8. METHODS
o BDI
o HAM-D
o MANSA
Assessments
8
IA PI 9 mth

9. METHODS
o The study adhered with the methodology of a
randomized controlled trial.
Efficacy of psychoeducation in the treatment of unipolar depression
ISRCTN ISRCTN10760801
ClinicalTrials.gov
identifier
Public title Efficacy of psychoeducation in the treatment of unipolar depression
Scientific title Efficacy of psychoeducation in the treatment of unipolar depression: a
multicentric randomised controlled trial
Contact name Dr Alma Dzubur Kulenovic
Address Bolnicka 25
City/town Sarajevo
Zip/Postcode 71000
Country Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tel +387 (0)61 223 708
Fax +387 (0)33 265 710
Email almadz@epn.ba

10. Screening
N = 155
Excluded
N= 35
Recruited
N = 120
PE + TAU
N= 60
S
20
G2
0
B
20
TAU
N= 60
S
20
G
20
B
20
Lost to first follow-up Lost to first follow-up
S
G S
2
B
B
G3
1
Evaluated post intervention Evaluated post
intervention
S
20
S
20
G
18
G
17
B
20
B
19
Lost to follow-up
cfffc
Lost to follow-up
S
G
2
B
2
B
1
G
2
S
2
Evaluated after 9 months Evaluated after 9 months
S
20
S
18
G
16
G
15
B
18
B
17
Computer
randomization

11. RESULTS 04
o Primary outcome measures
o were analyzed from scores on depression measurement
scales (BDI and HAM-D), and
o Secondary outcome measure
o was the score on MANSA scale for quality of life.
o Treatment effect has been established on
changes in BDI and HAM-D scores that is
significant on a level significantly lower than 1%
(f=48,548 i p=0,000) for BDI and respectively
(f=43,516 i p=0,000) for scores on HAM-D. F-ratio
pertaining to the changes on MANSA scores is
also statistically significant (f=8,243 i p=0,000).

12. BDI score
24,4833
16,9286
25,0392
22,85
10
16,3333
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Test Retest Followup
Mjerenje
Ukupni skor (BDI)
Kontrolna
skupina
Control
Exp
Eksperimentalna
skupina
Total BDI

13. HAM-D score
13,3393
17,9216
9,5345
11,537
16,7333
16,5167
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Test Retest Followup
Mjerenje
Ukupni skor (HAMD)
Kontrolna
skupina
Control
Eksperimentalna
skupina Exp
Total HAM-D

14. MANSA score
4,312 4,316
3,958
3,786
3,79
3,849
4,4
4,3
4,2
4,1
4
3,9
3,8
3,7
3,6
3,5
Test Retest Followup
Mjerenje
Ukupni skor (MANSA)
Kontrolna
skupina
Eksperimentalna
skupina
Total MANSA
Control
Exp

15. CONCLUSIONS 05
o This study provides further evidence about the
efficacy of psychoeducation as concomitant
treatment for unipolar depression.
o Given the burden of depressive disorder
worldwide, and particularly in our country, where
the prevalence of depression co-morbid with PTSD
is very high according to epidemiological studies;
the results of this study may provide justification for
a wider use of psychoeducation as an intervention
in mental health service planning.

16. Thank you for your attention!