Mental Health Practitioners' Views of the Families of Individuals With Schizophrenia and Barriers to Collaboration: A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Family involvement has been identified as a best practice in the treatment of schizophrenia. Yet studies show a small number of families of individuals with schizophrenia are involved in treatment. In this mixed method study, community mental health practitioners from different disciplines responded to a quantitative survey (N = 88), a qualitative structured question guide (N = 8), and open-ended questions (N = 43) that explored their views of families of individuals with schizophrenia and barriers to collaboration with them. Practitioners did not blame the family for causing their family member's schizophrenia. Barriers to collaboration were reported in three main areas: (a) time/workload barriers, (b) agency/system barriers, and (c) family barriers, while at the same time recognizing family collaboration as effective practice and reporting a desire to engage more families in the treatment process. Younger practitioners viewed organizational factors as more significant barriers to collaboration. Substance use factors emerged as a theme as a barrier to collaboration.

KEYWORDS:

• barriers to collaboration
• family
• practitioner views
• schizophrenia

Notes

Note. N = 88. Higher scores indicate more family awareness and less family blame, Questions 9 and 15 were not included in the analysis.

Note. N = 80. Lower item scores indicate views of increased obstacles to involving families.

R Squared = .131. *p < .05.