We Used to Live on Our Own Little Islands: A Qualitative Evaluation of Multifamily Therapy with Veterans

ABSTRACT

Research has shown a consistent negative association between increased symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans and successful functioning in family relationships. Despite compelling reasons to involve family members in the treatment of veterans, there is still a significant shortage of evidence-based programs. Multifamily therapy (MFT) is a combination of psychodynamic group therapy with systemic therapy and aims to elicit behavioral changes through the restructuring of interactional patterns in families. The purpose of this study is to qualitatively explore the efficacy of MFT in a convenience sample of Dutch veterans (nine) and their family members (23) who participated in an MFT program. Four basic themes were identified in the transcripts of the semi-structured interviews: 1. stronger family bond and reduced conflict, 2. understanding PTSD and its effect on the family, 3. working with other families, and 4. suggestions for improvement of MFT. In this study, participants described angry outbursts, interpersonal withdrawals, and emotional numbing as characteristic of their daily familial experiences. After MFT, the anger outbursts and fights diminished in most cases. MFT results in more fulfilling relationships within veteran families. MFT does not decrease symptomatology but is capable of enhancing the mental health of the veteran and their family members.

KEYWORDS:

• Anger
• conflict
• family relationships
• family therapy
• mental health
• PTSD
• qualitative research
• veterans

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the families that contributed to this study. This study was supported by a grant from the ‘Bond van Nederlandse Militaire Oorlogs- en dienstslachtoffers’ to Elisa van Ee, Principal Investigator.

Disclosure of Interest

All authors declare that they have no conflicts to report

Ethical Standards and Informed Consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation [institutional and national] and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the ‘Bond van Nederlandse Militaire Oorlogs- en dienstslachtoffers’ to Elisa van Ee, Principal Investigator.