Family Dysfunction (Explanation) Flashcards
What is family dysfunction?
Abnormal processes within a family such as poor communication, cold parenting and high levels of expressed emotion.
These may be risk factors for both the development and maintenance of SZ.
What is the Schizophrenogenic mother?
Basically means “schizophrenia causing”.
A psychodynamic explanation for SZ based on accounts from patients in childhood.
A mother who is cold, rejecting and controlling. Creates an environment of tension/secrecy.
What is the double-bind theory?
The child finds themselves trapped in situations where they fear doing the wrong thing, but receive mixed messages about what this is- they feel unable to comment on the unfairness or seek clarification.
Child is punished by withdrawal of love when they get it wrong.
Confusion.
What is expressed emotion?
Level of emotion expressed towards a patient by their carers.
Verbal criticism, accompanied by violence at times.
Hostility towards patients, including anger and rejection.
Emotional over-involvement, including needless self-sacrifice.
What is expressed emotion primarily an explanation for?
Relapse in patients with SZ
Also been suggested it may be a source of stress that can trigger onset of SZ in someone already vulnerable (diathesis-stress model).
Strengths of family dysfunction?
Possible practical application e.g family therapy
Insecure attachments (Type C or D) are seen more in Schizophrenic patients (Berry, 2008) and history of physical or sexual abuse (69% F and 59% M) (Read et al., 2005)
High predictive validity for relapse rates in high EE families (Kavanagh, 1992; Butzlaff and Hooley, 1998)
Weakness of family dysfunction?
Socially sensitive- blames mother
Cause an effective, is it the dysfunction causing SZ or SZ causing dysfunction?
May ignore components of biology, may be more of a trigger (fd) not a cause.
