L10: Family Therapy as Treatment

Question 1

What is family therapy?

Answer 1

• Psychotherapy involvimg the whole family
• Lasts 9-12 months for 10 sessions
• NICE say family therapy should be offered to all patients in direct contact/living with family

Question 2

How does Family Therapy work?

Answer 2

• Therapist talks openly about symptoms/behaviour/treatmeng to all fam members
• Based that family dysfunction can aod development of schiz
• Family encouraged to support each other
• Used with anti-psychotic drugs

Question 3

What are the aims of family therapy

Answer 3

• Lowers EE
• Decreases criticism and family guilt
• Reduces relaspe rates
• Reduces symptoms
• Improves positive communication and increases formation of alliances within family

Question 4

Evaluation of Family Therapy (+)

Answer 4

+ Economic benefits. Can save on costs if offered with drugs to prevent relapse
+ Imporves outcomes for patients. Has a positive impact on family members. Psychologist looked 50 studies and 69% reported a significant positive impact on coping with a patient
+ Useful for younger patients or those who can live with their parents. The whole family can aid the management of the illness

Question 5

Evaluation of Family Therapy (-)

Answer 5

• Requires patient and family to be open and himest. Issues can be when people are not willing to share sensitive information. Also if there are increased tensions due to EE
• Doesnt work for older patients who live alone
• Due to NHS restictive costs, it might not be offered to all patients. Many will recieve medication instead
• Doesnt cure or reduce the symptoms of schiz. Supposed to help the patient and family manage the illness but diesn tget ti the root cause of the problem.