Family therapy

Question 1

What is family therapy

Answer 1

• based on idea that family dysfunction can lead to an increased risk in relapse in people with sz
• aim to reduce conflict and high emotion amongst family members-
• helping family form alliances, limit outbursts of anger expressed by individual family members
• often used alongside other treatment, mainly drug treatments

Question 2

Advantages of family therapy

Answer 2

• Pilling et al (2002) found family therapy reduce rate of readmission in some patients w sz- success
• useful useful in patients who lack insight into their own condition or who can’t coherently explain their thoughts

Question 3

Disadvantages of family therapy

Answer 3

• getting informed consent from all members of the family can be difficult
• issues surrounding confidentiality which need to be addressed
• families need to be engaged and open to changing behaviour- not every family will be