Family Interventions for Schizophrenia

Abstract

Initially, the authors provide the background and rationale for a family-focused approach to the treatment of schizophrenia. They also explore the family experience of schizophrenia, including illness-related sources of family stress. Strategies for engaging, assessing, and assisting families are discussed, and four family interventions for schizophrenia are presented, along with their empirical support. Additional topics include ethnocultural diversity and life span considerations, including the changing agenda of families over time and the unique needs of parents, spouses, siblings, and offspring. Suggestions are offered for dealing with confidentiality, for achieving an optimal service match for individual families, and for enhancing effectiveness in working with these families.

Key Words:

• Family therapy
• schizophrenia
• family stress
• cultural diversity