Family Therapy Flashcards
Define family therapy
a psychotherapy based off the assumption that communication in the family is dysfunctional so brings whole family together to increase quality of communication and interactions whilst reducing stress and levels of expressed emotion.
What strategies are used in family therapies? (Pharoah 2010)
- to form a therapeutic alliance with all family members
- reduce stress of caring for relative with Sz
- problem solving
- reduction of anger and guilt
- improve beliefs and behaviour towards Sz
- find balance between caring for relative with Sz whilst maintaining own lives
Pro of family therapy:research evidence
Pharoah 2010-carried a meta analysis on 53 studies and to compare effectiveness of family therapy for treatment of Sz with antipsychotic meds. Found reduction of relapse/hospital admission during the treatment and 24 months after aswell as increasing patients compliance with medication.
Pro of family therapy:insight
useful for patients lacking insight in their schizophrenia as family members can provide useful information about the patients schizophrenia in a coherent way and have insight and recognise their moods and speak for them when the patient is unable to do so which could help them receive therapy immediately showing the clear strengths family therapy has in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Con of family therapy: Contradictory findings
Garety et al (2008)- found little difference in the improvement of schizophrenia symptoms in patients that had family therapy compared to patients that received no family therapy but had carers. Patients in both groups had low incidences of relapse. Researchers found that the carers had low levels of EE (expressed emotion) and this could explain why there was little difference between the two groups. This clearly shows that low levels of EE are important for improving symptoms of schizophrenia, but it also shows that family therapy may not necessarily be any more effective than a high quality standard of care provided by carers.
