family dysfunction

• FAMILY DYSFUNCTION: These explanations suggest that abnormal functioning within families can act as a RISK FACTOR.
• double bind theory

  • This is when you receive two conflicting messages: Verbally affectionate but non-verbally hostile.
  •  As a result, is unsure what is right or wrong due to receiving mixed messages. 
  • When they ‘get it wrong’ (which is often) the child is punished by the withdrawal of love. This leaves them to understand the world as dangerous, confusing and unpredictable.
• how does double bind lead to symptoms

  • could lead to magnifying certain schizophrenic symptoms. For example, Paranoid delusions occur because the child finds it very difficult to predict the world around them. This makes the child feel constantly worried and cautious. 
  • Avolition could occur because the child is constantly faced with failure. So they feel helpless and unmotivated thus leading to a lack of goal-directed behaviour.
• expressed emotion

  • A family communication style where family members talk about or to them in a hostile, critical manner (high EE) 
  • the negative emotional climate in these families, is often a significant source of stress for the patient.. This stress mounts on top of their already impaired coping mechanisms, thus triggering a schizophrenic episode.

  - This means that they are less likely to take their medication or comply to cognitive therapies , hence being a leading cause for relapse.
• a patient returning to a family with high ee is 4 times mroe likely ot relapse than that of low ee