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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Jun 29;21(1):318.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-021-03318-8.

Telemedical care and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: results of a randomized controlled trial

Ulrike Stentzel #  1 , Neeltje van den Berg #  2 , Kilson Moon  2 , Lara N Schulze  3 , Josephine Schulte  3 , Jens M Langosch  4 , Wolfgang Hoffmann  2 , Hans J Grabe  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Telemedical care and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: results of a randomized controlled trial

Ulrike Stentzel et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are serious psychiatric disorders with a high disease burden, a high number of years of life lived with disability and a high risk for relapses and re-hospitalizations. Besides, both diseases are often accompanied with a reduced quality of life (QoL). A low level of quality of life is one predictor for relapses. This study examines whether a telemedical care program can improve QoL.

Methods: Post stationary telemedical care of patients with severe psychiatric disorders" (Tecla) is a prospective controlled randomized intervention trial to implement and evaluate a telemedical care concept for patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Participants were randomized to an intervention or a control group. The intervention group received telemedical care including regular, individualized telephone calls and SMS-messages. QoL was measured with the German version of the WHOQOL-BREF. Effects of telemedicine on QoL after 6 months and treatment*time interactions were calculated using linear regressions (GLM and linear mixed models).

Results: One hundred eighteen participants were recruited, thereof 57.6% men (n = 68). Participants were on average 43 years old (SD 13). The treatment*time interaction was not significant. Hence, treatment had no significant effect either. Instead, gender is an influencing factor. Further analysis showed that social support, the GAF-level and QoL-values at baselines were significant determinants for the improvement of QoL.

Conclusion: The telemedicine care concept Tecla was not significant for QoL in patients with severe psychiatric disorders. More important for the QoL is the general social support and the level of global functioning of the patients.

Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00008548, registered 21 May 2015 - retrospectively registered, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/setLocale_EN.do.

Keywords: Bipolar disorder; Quality of life; Randomized controlled trial; Schizophrenia; Telemedical care; Telemedicine; WHOQOL-BREF.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Example for an individualized text message contact between study nurse and participant
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
CONSORT flow diagram [30]
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Subjective evaluation of received telemedicine care by the participants of the intervention group
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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