family therapy

Question 1

what is family therapy?

Answer 1

• based on the idea that family dysfunction plays a role in the development of sz
• offered to everyone with sz who are in contact with or live with family
• it aims to improve pos and decrease neg forms of communication, increase tolerance levels and decrease criticism levels, decrease feelings of guilt and responsibility for causing the sz, reduce the burden of care, enhance abilities to anticipate and solve issues

Question 2

what is the process of family therapy?

Answer 2

1. meet regularly, they are encouraged to talk openly about the patient’s symptoms, behaviour and progress
2. taught to support each other, each person is given a specific role in the process
3. emphasises openness, no details remaining confidential. boundaries of what is acceptable are done in advance
4. done between 3 months to a year for at least 10 sessions
5. aims to reduce EE levels
6. provides family with info about sz, how to support the patient and resolve issues like ensuring medical appt’s and meds

Question 3

give a strength of family therapy
1/3

Answer 3

pharoah et al (2010) did a meta analysis of 53 studies to assess FT effectiveness, comparing it to just drugs. they found FT increased compliance with meds and there was a reduction in the risk of relapse and hospital admission during treatment and 24 months after. this suggests that FT is effective in reducing relapse long term.

COUNTER = critics argue that improvements are the result of the increased meds compliance rather than FT itself. patients benefit from their meds as they’re more likely to take them, so results may not be due to FT

Question 4

give a strength of family therapy
2/3

Answer 4

it can be useful for patients who lack awareness of their illness or can’t speak coherently, as family members can assist by giving the therapist the info needed. often these family members will have a useful insight into the patient’s behaviours and moods which the patient may not always have

Question 5

give a strength of family therapy
3/3

Answer 5

cost-effective, it decreases relapse rates, lowers the need for hospitalisation, and also educates families on managing the patient’s meds. this decreases the need for medical treatment, making FT cost-effective. the sz commission (2012) estimates that FT is cheaper than drugs alone by £1004 per patient over 3 years (it saves money). also, the extra cost of FT is offset by the reduction in the costs of hospitalisation

Question 6

give a limitation of family therapy
1/1

Answer 6

some argue the nature of the therapy causes problems. for example, the emphasis on openness may cause issues with people being reluctant to share info to prevent reopening family tensions. some of them may not want to face the issues, lowering the effectiveness of the treatments - if family members arent honest and fully engaging, FT cant tackle faulty family communication