Family Therapy In Sz

Question 1

Family therapy
What

Answer 1

Therapy based on social and psychodynamic issues surrounding the dysfunctional backgrounds sz patients may originate from

Attempt to fix the faulty and dysfunctional dynamic of a family that may have caused sz.

Question 2

Process of Family therapy

Answer 2

Aimed to help patient and family develop constructive practical coping skills - minimalise the chances of relapse
First focus on developing co-operative and trusting r/ships - other professionals may be involved (GP)
therapist EDUCATES family abt symptoms, causes and prognosis of sz (psycho education)
Set of practical coping skills - everyday difficulties
Family taught how to express concern w/o resorting to high EE.
Family trained to spot early signs of relapse.

Question 3

What r the processes
1) Cooperative and trusting r/ship
2) Educate
3) Practical coping strategies

Answer 3

1) both family and patient meet in supportive env where everyone feels valued - 6 months w min of 10 sessions
2) therapist educated group abt symptoms, causes and prognosis of sz whilst family brings together their experiences of disorder - patients saying being asked constantly if they r okay worsens symptoms
3) behavioural and cognitive techniques that are provided to family to cope with everyday difficulties

Question 4

Ev positive of family therapy

Answer 4

Evidence for effectiveness - Leff (1982) 24 patients 1) educational sessions dealing with nature, symptoms, dealing with difficult behav in sz 2) group meetings with family to discuss how they dealt with sz 3) family sessions + social workers + professionals.
Leff found families involved = decrease in critical comments to the patient and reduced over involvement (characteristics of high EE)
78% control group readmitted - 14% experimental group with sz = FT sign.

Support in cultural settings - XIONG randomly allocated 63 Chinese pts of sz to either standard drug care / with FT
Found 61% standard drug care pts had relapse compared to 36% that had FT aswell
= FT is effective addition to drug care - useful strategy

Question 5

Negative EV - FT

Answer 5

Leff’s research has many methodological flaws that limits credibility - comparing use of FT and APs against just APs - multiple extran variables not controlled.
EG. sz pts may have different severity of symptoms to begin with + may be on different APs with diff levels of effectiveness. Also not reported why some relapsed
= FT lacks rigorous experimental support - questions effectiveness