Telemedical care improves quality of life in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Results of a randomized controlled trial

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. A low level of quality of life is one predictor for relapses. This study examines whether a telemedical care program can improve quality of life. 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. The quality of life was measured with the German version of the WHOQOL-BREF. Effects of telemedicine on quality of life after 6 months were analyzed using t-tests to compare the intervention with the control group. Participants also evaluated the telemedical care program based on a short standardized interview. Results: 118 participants were recruited, thereof 57.6 % men (n = 68). Participants were on average 43 years old (SD) 13). Linear mixed model revealed that affiliation to patient group (0 = CG, 1 = IG), gender (0 = female, 1 = male), increasing social support and higher GAF-level are positive significant influence factors for the WHOQOL total quality of life, physical, psychological, environmental and global domain. An increasing education often showed significantly decreasing quality of life values. Age as an influencing factor, showed different results on the sum score and the individual domains. Conclusion: The Tecla telemedical care concept has improved the quality of life in patients with severe psychiatric disorders. It provides for a low-threshold and well suitable component in psychiatric treatment.Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00008548, registered 21 May 2015 – retrospectively registered, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/setLocale_EN.do