Psychosis and multiple family group therapy

Despite the growing evidence base for the effectiveness of family intervention in the treatment of individuals suffering from a psychotic disorder, in practice only relatively few mental health teams use family approaches when treating and managing those with schizophrenia or other psychoses. This paper describes a pragmatic model, which may be used in addition to other ongoing treatments, such as medication, CBTor single family therapy. It was developed jointly by clinicians and service users over the past few years. It consists of regular multiple family group work, with six to eight families attending simultaneously, and aims to involve families directly in the treatment, rehabilitation and recovery of their members suffering from psychotic disorder.

[1]  G. Krarup,et al.  A randomised multicentre trial of integrated versus standard treatment for patients with a first episode of psychotic illness , 2005, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[2]  W. Gaebel,et al.  Schizophrenia practice guidelines: international survey and comparison. , 2005, The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science.

[3]  Salvador Minuchin,et al.  Families and Family Therapy , 1974 .

[4]  W. McFarlane Multifamily Groups in the Treatment of Severe Psychiatric Disorders , 2002 .

[5]  E. Asen Multiple family therapy: an overview , 2002 .

[6]  P. Bishop,et al.  Mental health matters: a multi‐family framework for mental health intervention , 2002 .

[7]  D. Lam,et al.  Family work for schizophrenia : a practical guide , 2002 .

[8]  M. Hendryx,et al.  Management of negative symptoms among patients with schizophrenia attending multiple-family groups. , 2000, Psychiatric services.

[9]  Bruce G. Link,et al.  A comparison of two levels of family-aided assertive community treatment. , 1996, Psychiatric services.

[10]  R. Dushay,et al.  Psychoeducational multiple family groups: four-year relapse outcome in schizophrenia. , 1995, Family process.

[11]  Susan M. Deakins,et al.  Family-aided assertive community treatment: a comprehensive rehabilitation and intensive case management approach for persons with schizophrenic disorders. , 1992, New directions for mental health services.

[12]  Carol M. Anderson,et al.  Schizophrenia and the Family: A Practitioner's Guide to Psychoeducation and Management , 1986 .

[13]  G. Simpson,et al.  Family management in the prevention of morbidity of schizophrenia. Clinical outcome of a two-year longitudinal study. , 1985, Archives of general psychiatry.

[14]  J. Leff,et al.  Expressed emotion in families : its significance for mental illness , 1985 .

[15]  A. Cooklin,et al.  An institution for change: developing a family day unit. , 1983, Family process.

[16]  J. Greenwood,et al.  A day unit for families , 1982 .

[17]  J. Leff,et al.  The Role of Maintenance Therapy and Relatives' Expressed Emotion in Relapse of Schizophrenia: A Two-Year Follow-up , 1981, British Journal of Psychiatry.

[18]  P R May,et al.  Drug and family therapy in the aftercare of acute schizophrenics. , 1978, Archives of general psychiatry.

[19]  M. Agresti,et al.  Multiple-family therapy in a state hospital. , 1969, Hospital & community psychiatry.

[20]  H. P. Laqueur,et al.  MULTIPLE FAMILY THERAPY. , 1964, Current psychiatric therapies.

[21]  T. Detre,et al.  An experimental approach to the treatment of the acutely ill psychiatric patient in the general hospital. , 1961, Connecticut medicine.