A03 for family therapy

• * evidence from leff 1985?

  • compared family therapy with routine outpatient care for sz with high ee families
  • found within first 9 months of treatment 50% of those with routine care relapsed
  • compared with 8% for family therapy
  • effective
  • has low relapse rates so its effective in treating sz in short term
• X not effective in long term?

  • leff found that after 2 years of treatment 75% with routine care relapsed
  • 50% for family therapy
  • ? effective
  • not effective in long term
  • means as soon as therapy stops symptoms start to resurface
  • may be more suitable therapy
• * cheaper than standard care?

  • although fam therapy more expensive than drug therapy - patient pays for trained therapist over period of 9-12 months
  • sz commission 2012 estimates fam therapy cheaper by £1000 a patient over 3 years
  • accessible for people with lower household income
  • a more economical therapy means more money available to deal with urgent care for patients who are at risk of suicide/need more time in care
  • appeals to wider population - fam may choose to share cost of treatment opposed to responsibilty resting with individual patient who may be out of work due to severity of symptoms
• X relies on family being open?

  • therapy works on basis that families can form trusting therapeutic alliance & all committed to attending
  • some less open with each other & extremely hostile - high levels of ee
  • some not capable of this level of introspection - not appropriate
  • ? appropriate
  • not suitable for families that are not open with one another
  • may be better therapies available that accommodate all families