International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

The Effectiveness of Family-Focused Therapy on Family Functioning in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Nasimeh Nikbakht 1
Bahram Mirzaian 1
Ghodratollah Abbasi 1
Seyed-Mohammad Mousavi 2
1 Department of Psychology, Sar.C., Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
2 Department of Psychology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
10.30491/ijbs.2026.567282.2296
Abstract
Introduction: Bipolar disorder profoundly disrupts interpersonal relationships and family cohesion. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Family-Focused Therapy in improving family functioning among individuals with bipolar disorder.
Method: A randomized clinical trial with a pretest-posttest control group design and a three-month follow-up was conducted. The study population consisted of individuals aged 25–45 years diagnosed with bipolar disorder in Sari during 2025. Thirty participants, along with one self-selected family member, were recruited through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (n=15 per group). The experimental group underwent ten 90-minute sessions of an abbreviated adaptation of Family-Focused Therapy, while the control group received no additional psychosocial intervention (treatment as usual, consisting of pharmacotherapy only) during this period. Data were collected using the Family Assessment Device, which was completed by both the patient and one family member to reflect a family perspective (scores were averaged or jointly reported as appropriate). Data were analyzed via repeated measures analysis of variance in SPSS version 26.
Results: The experimental group showed significant reductions in Family Assessment Device scores (indicating improved family functioning, since higher scores reflect poorer functioning) from pretest to posttest and at the three-month follow-up (P<0.01). These improvements were sustained, with no significant differences between posttest and follow-up scores.
Conclusion: Family-focused therapy was associated with improvements in family functioning in individuals with bipolar disorder in this sample. This modality can be considered as an adjunctive psychosocial intervention to promote familial outcomes and systemic stability.
Keywords
Bipolar Disorder
Family Therapy
Family Relations
Treatment Outcome
Psychotherapy
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International Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume 19, Issue 4
Winter 2026
Pages 239-245