Family Dysfunction

• Family dysfunction is the presence of problems within a family that contributes to relapse rates in recovering schizophrenics
• Family dysfunction:

  • Schizophrenic mother
  • Double blind theory
  • Expressed emotions
• Schizophrenic mother:

  • Fromm- Reichmann in conversations with patients noted that many talked of a cold rejecting and controlling mother who created home full of tension and anxiety
  • She called this type of parent the schizophrenic mother and it leads to distrust that can develop into paranoid delusions ( a belief that someone is being persecuted) and ultimately schizophrenia.
• Double Bind Theory:

  Bateson believes that family climate is important in the development of schizophrenia and he emphasised the role of mixed communication within the family.
• Double Bind Theory:

  • For example When children get conflicting messages from their parents schizophrenia may well develop.
  • If a mothers tells her son she loves him verbally then non verbally turns away in disgust the child receives mixed message affection and animosity at the same time. As such the child fails to develop stable internal sense of reality.
  • Leaves them thinking the world is confusing and dangerous this then leads to schizophrenic symptoms like disorganised thinking and Paranoid delusions.
  • But Bateson very clear this is just a risk factor.
• • Expressed emotion:

  This is level of emotion expressed mainly negative emotion towards the patient by the carer.
• Expressed emotion - EE emotion has a number of characteristics:

  Verbal criticism occasionally accompanied by violence

  Hostility towards the patient including rejection and anger

  Emotional over involvement in the life of the patient including needless self-sacrifice