Service user perspectives of a psychoeducation group for individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder: a qualitative study.

Group psychoeducation, incorporating cognitive-behavioral techniques, is increasingly used as part of the treatment package for bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to explore service-users' perspectives of a psychoeducation group which was run in the context of a community mental health service. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 participants who had completed a psychoeducation group for individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The verbatim transcripts of those interviews were analyzed using IPA. Three superordinate themes emerged from the data, including the treatment of bipolar disorder, perception of others, and learning from the group. From the perspectives of the service-users, positive working alliances with mental health professionals and the need for a treatment strategy that matches the individual's own approach to their illness were highlighted as benefits of participation in the group.