Developing a family intervention service for serious mental illness: Clinical observations and experiences

Abstract

Family Intervention (FI) approaches in schizophrenia have been widely evaluated over the last fifteen years. They appear to be successful in reducing rates of psychotic relapse and have benefits for family members. It is, however, unclear what are the active critical ingredients of these interventions, how they are best delivered and whether gains can be maintained. There are few accounts in the literature of teams that implement FI within a routine clinical service rather than as part of a specially funded research project. The present paper provides such an account. Pertinent issues relating to FI are discussed in the light of our experiences as a team working in a British district mental health service.