family dysfunction

• P: the importance of family relationships in schizophrenia was demonstrated in an adoption study by Tienari

  E: adopted children who had schizophrenic biological parents were more likely to become ill themselves than were children with non-schizophrenic parents. This difference emerged only in situations where the adopted family itself was rated as disturbed

  L: this suggests that the illness only manifests itself under appropriate environmental conditions, therefore genetic vulnerability alone is not sufficient
• Family dysfunction cannot explain all cases of schizophrenia. Many patients show no evidence of problematic family backgrounds. Biological explanations (e.g. genetics and neurotransmitters) often offer more consistent, empirical findings. Therefore, family dysfunction is likely only one part of a broader diathesis-stress model.
• The theory has been criticised for being ethically problematic, especially older ideas like the “schizophrenogenic mother,” which blamed cold, rejecting mothers for causing the disorder. This can lead to unjust stigma and guilt for families, who may already be struggling to support the patient.