Family Interventions for Schizophrenia and the Psychoses: A Review.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2016
Journal Title
Family process
MeSH Headings
Adaptation, Psychological, Caregivers, Expressed Emotion, Family, Family Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Psychotic Disorders, Schizophrenia, Schizophrenic Psychology, Treatment Outcome
Abstract
Family psychoeducation as a treatment for schizophrenia was developed 40 years ago almost simultaneously and independently by investigators who at the time were not family therapists. Although the original goal was to decrease high expressed emotion as a means of preventing relapse, later variations have gone beyond to focus on social and role functioning and family well-being. Explicitly disavowing the earlier assumptions that family pathology caused relapse and deterioration, family psychoeducation seeks to engage family members as more sophisticated partners, complementing interventions by clinicians with specialized interactions and coping skills that counter the neurologic deficits inherent to the disorder. It has proved to be one of the most consistently effective treatments available. Reports on outcome studies now number more than 100, while meta-analyses put relapse rate reduction at 50-60% over treatment as usual. The most recent application in first episode and prodromal psychosis, combined with other evidence-based interventions, is yielding perhaps the most promising results yet achieved-substantial return of functioning and avoidance of psychosis altogether. Reviewed here are its scientific, theoretical, and clinical sources, a description of the most commonly applied version-the multifamily group format, selected clinical trials spanning those four decades, international and ethnic adaptations, and studies on mechanisms of efficacy.
ISSN
1545-5300
First Page
460
Last Page
482
Recommended Citation
McFarlane, William R, "Family Interventions for Schizophrenia and the Psychoses: A Review." (2016). MaineHealth Maine Medical Center. 1323.
https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/mmc/1323