F AMILY T HERAPY Psychological Treatments

T HE IMPACT OF FAMILY Hostility and heightened emotion can bring on symptoms and episodes. Therapy focusing on social dynamics has therefore been suggested to be highly effective. Falloon et al devised a form of family therapy in 1985 designed to combat this.

T HE PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY THERAPY Teaching the whole family to be constructive, undemanding and empathetic. Avoiding heightened expectations and confrontation. Avoiding stressful confrontation.

E FFECTIVENESS Falloon’s research compared patients that were all on drug treatments across independent groups design. Those in family therapy had markedly less relapse rates. 50% retuned to hospital within a year in the individual therapy group where in the family therapy group the figure was only 11%. NB: If we were to be critical why could we argue this might have been the case?

B IRCHWOOD AND J ACKSON 2001 Found relapse rates at 60% for individual treatments and 25-33% for those in family therapy. Overall suggesting family therapy is effective.

P SYCHOEDUCATION Falloon’s approach is now commonly known as psychoeducation. The family in this approach are treated as part of the solution rather than the problem. McFarlene, Dixon et al 2003 reviewed literature on the approach and suggests it improves family well being.

O PTIMAL T REATMENT P ROJECT Incorporates drug treatments with family therapy and is now use din over 20 countries. However critics have argued that this combined approach is generally only used in clinics where the therapists are highly motivated and believe in the treatment. It is also still the case that patients require drug therapy and will still never reach the same social normality of healthy individuals.

A PPROPRIATE ? 65% of patients coming out of hospital return to their families so it is clearly an important type of therapy. It is clear that excessive emotion induces episodes therefore to tackle emotion directly is clearly appropriate. Schizophrenia causes problems with communication and disorganised speech. Patients often feel isolated because of this so helping them with social interaction is a positive move.

B UT It ignores biological factors It must be used in conjunction with other therapies. Lots of those with schizophrenia do not have a family and are unmarried It will never allow a patient to match the functioning of a healthy individual

E XAM P REPARATION A01A02A03 What is the treatment? How does it work? What does it do. Supporting arguments through research Challenging findings and commenting on research through critique of methodology or flawed assumptions i.e. validity / reliability and crediblity. Suggesting useful applications for reaerch Suggesting alternative viewpoints Consider issues of culture and gender Ethics of research Critique of the methods in regard to quantative and qualiative research and the strengths and weaknesses of what that research can show us.

P OTENTIAL Q UESTIONS Outline and evaluate either psychological or biological treatments of schizophrenia. (24 marks) OR Outline and evaluate one biological therapy (12) Outline and evaluate one psychological therapy (12)