Family Therapy

Question 1

Family theraphy

Answer 1

Thhe name given to a range of interventions aimed at the family (e.g parents, sibilings etc.) of someone with SZ.

Question 2

Nature of family therapy

Answer 2

• Offered for a period between three and 12 months and at least ten sessions.
• Family based interventions are aimed at reducing the level of expressed emotion within the family.
  Expression = increase the likelihood of relapse.
• Involves providing family members information about SZ, finding ways of supporting and resolving practical problems.

Question 3

Nature of family therapy

Garetu et al. (2008)

Answer 3

Estimate the relapse rate for individuals who recieve family therapy as 25% compared to 50% for those who recieve standard care alone.

Question 4

Characteristic of schizophrenia

Answer 4

individuals are usually suspicious of their treatment.

Question 5

Key study Pharoach et al (2010)

Procedure

Answer 5

Reviewed 53 studies published between 2002 and 2010 to investigate the effectiveness of family intervention. Studies chosen were conducted in europe, asia and north america. The studies compared outcomes from FT to ‘standard’ care alone.

• Conducted randomised studies.

Question 6

Key study Pharoach et al (2010)
Findings
Indivduals recieving family therapy vs standard care i.e antipsychotic medication

Answer 6

The main results were:

Mental state - Overall impression was mixed. Some studies reported an improvement in the overall mental state of paitents compared to those recieved standard care, whereas others did not.

Question 7

Key study Pharoach et al (2010)
Findings
Indivduals recieving family therapy vs standard care i.e antipsychotic medication

Answer 7

The main results were:

Mental state
Complicance with medication
Social functioning
Reduction in relapse and readmission

Question 8

Key study Pharoach et al (2010)
Findings
Indivduals recieving family therapy vs standard care i.e antipsychotic medication

MENTAL STATE

Answer 8

Overall impression was mixed. Some studies reported an improvement in the overall mental state of paitents compared to those recieved standard care, whereas others did not.

Question 9

Key study Pharoach et al (2010)
Findings
Indivduals recieving family therapy vs standard care i.e antipsychotic medication

COMPLIANCE WITH MEDICATION

Answer 9

The use of family intervention increased paitents’ compliance with medication

Question 10

Key study Pharoach et al (2010)
Findings
Indivduals recieving family therapy vs standard care i.e antipsychotic medication

SOCIAL FUNCTIONING

Answer 10

Although appearing to show some improvement on general function family intervention did not appear to have much of an effect on more concrete outcomes such as living independently or employment.

Question 11

Key study Pharoach et al (2010)
Findings
Indivduals recieving family therapy vs standard care i.e antipsychotic medication

REDUCTION IN RELAPSE AND READMISSION.

Answer 11

There was a reduction in the risk of relapse and a reduction in hospital admission during treatment and the 24 months after.

Question 12

Stengths of family therapy AO3

Lobban et al. (2013)

Answer 12

• Has shown to improvement fpr the individual with SZ that has had a postive impact on family members.
• Analysed the results of 50 family therapy studirs that have included an intervention to support relatives.
• 60% of the studies were reported a postive impact of the intervention on at least one outcome category for relatives e.g problem-solving and copy skills.

Question 13

Weaknesses of Family therapy AO3

Answer 13

Failed to show any better outcomes for paitnts gien sessions of FT compared to those who simply had carrers but no family theraphy