L8 Family Therapy for SZ

Question 1

What are the key features of Family Therapy?

Answer 1

• A form of psychotherapy with the whole family
• Lasts from 9 months to 1 year with approximately 10 sessions
• NICE recommends that family therapy is offered to all SZ patients that are in direct contact or live with their family

Question 2

What can Family Therapy include?

Answer 2

• The therapist can talk openly about symptoms, behaviour and treatment to all family members, ensuring there is informed consent and no details disclosed
• The family is encouraged to support each other, based on the idea that family dysfunction can cause SZ
• Family therapy is usually used alongside antipsychotic drugs

Question 3

What does family therapy aim to do? (4)

Answer 3

• Lower Expressed Emotion (EE)
• Decrease criticism and family guilt
• Reduce relapse rates and symptoms of SZ
• Improves positive communication between family members and increases the formation of alliances within the family

Question 4

What is the Key Study of Pharoah (2010)

Answer 4

• Reviewed 53 studies between 2002-2010 from Europe, Asia and North America
• Investigated outcomes of family therapy against standard drug care for SZ patients

Question 5

What did Pharoah find?

Answer 5

• Results found similar outcomes for both therapies and the patients who had family therapy showed more compliance with taking drugs
• Did not have an effect on employability or ability to live alone for patients, but it did reduce relapse rate and chances of hospitalisation for the next two years

Question 6

What are strengths of Family Therapy in treating SZ? (2)

Answer 6

50 studies
Support of the Interactionist approach

Question 7

Support of the Interactionist approach (+)

Answer 7

• The use of family therapy along with antipsychotic drugs is supported by the interactionist approach to SZ
• The therapy understands that both genetic and environmental factors can lead to the development of SZ

Question 8

50 studies (+)

Answer 8

• Looked at 50 studies that focused on family therapy and 60% of these studies reported a significant positive impact
• This shows how family therapy improves the outcome for SZ patients and the family for coping with a SZ patient

Question 9

• What are weaknesses of Family Therapy in treating SZ? (2)

Answer 9

Sensitive information
Does not cure SZ or tackle symptoms

Question 10

Does not cure SZ or tackle symptoms (-)

Answer 10

• Criticised as it does not cure SZ or tackle the symptoms
• Family Therapy is designed to help the patient and family MANAGE symptoms
• It does not tackle the cause or the root of the illness

Question 11

Sensitive Information (-)

Answer 11

• Criticised as it requires SZ patient and family to be open and honest
• There might be an issue if the family are not willing to share sensitive information with the therapist
• If there is family tension and high EE, this could lower the effectiveness of the family therapy