psych therapy- family therapy

Question 1

what is family therapy?

Answer 1

a psychological therapy carried out with all or some members of a family.
aim to improve family communication and reduce stress of living as a family.
links to double-bind and schizophrenogenic mother.

Question 2

how does family therapy improve the functioning of family that has a member with schiz?
pharoah (2010)

Answer 2

reduces negative emotions and improves the family’s ability to help

Question 3

reduces negative emotions

Answer 3

• reduces levels of EE.
• especially neg emotions like anger and guilt which create stress.
• reducting stress important to reduce likelihood of relapse.

Question 4

improves family’s ability to help

Answer 4

• therapist encourages family members to form therapeutic alliance where all agree on aims of therapy
• tries to improve families’ beliefs about and behaviour towards schiz
• ensures family members achieve a balance between caring for schiz individual and maintaining own lives

Question 5

model of practice (for working with families dealing with schiz)
burbach (2018)

Answer 5

phase 1- sharing basic info. providing emotional and practical support.
phase 2- identifying resources including what diff members can and can’t offer.
phase 3- encourage mutual understanding. create safe space for all members to express feelings.
phase 4- identifying unhelpful patterns of interaction.
phase 5- skills training e.g. learning stress management techniques.
phase 6- relapse prevention planning.
phase 7- maintenance for future.

Question 6

strength

evidence of effectiveness

Answer 6

mcfarlane (2016)- one of most consistently effective schiz treatments. relapse rates typically reduced by 50-60%. use as mental health intially declines particularly promising.
NICE- recommends family therapy for schiz

has research and clinical support. likely to benefit people with both early and intense schiz, reducing relapse rates.

Question 7

strength

benefit to whole family

Answer 7

benefits identified patient and families providing care.
lobban and barrowclough (2016)- by strengthening function of whole family, FT lessens negative impact of schiz on other family members and strengthens ability of family to support schiz member

wider benefits beyond obvious positive impact on identified patient

Question 8

strength

economic benefits

Answer 8

reduces relapse rates and makes families able to provide bulk of care- reduces amount state needs to pay for hospital care, benefits, etc.
people more likely to want to fund it.

cost-effective as reduces future cost for identified patient and family