AO3 - Family Dysfunction Schizophrenia

• The theory that high levels of EE cause schizophrenic relapse led to an effective therapy where high-EE relatives are shown how to reduce their negatively expressed emotion.
• Terkelsen et al (1983) argues that blaming the family creates an atmosphere of adversity and mistrust, with poorer outcomes for the patient.
• Research linking family dysfunction to schizophrenia is highly socially sensitive because it can lead to parent blaming, in particular mothers.
• Mari & Streiner (1994) found that family therapy significantly reduced expressed emotion and hospitalisation and also increased medication compliance.
• Family therapy has been shown to be effective in achieving a more positive outcome in patients with schizophrenia, supporting the family dysfunction explanation.
• Indicators of family dysfunction include insecure attachment and exposure to childhood trauma especially abuse. Read et al (2005) offer support following a review on adults with schizophrenia who were disproportionately likely to have insecure attachment types.
• Living with a family member who suffers from schizophrenia is very stressful and can create high emotional states and conflicts. Therefore it is difficult to establish which comes first, the dysfunctional family or the dysfunctional child.
• This explanation fails to consider that not all children living in dysfunctional families go on to develop schizophrenia.
• There is limited evidence supporting the idea of the schizophrenogenic mother and the double-bind hypothesis.