Psychological treatments Family therapy

• Aim of family therapy

  Improve communication patterns - increase positive communication and decrease negative communication among the family

  
  

  Increase tolerance and understanding - Educate family members about schizophrenia and how to deal with it

  
  

  Reduce feelings of guilt and anger - family members may feel guilty or angry towards the schizophrenic patient
• AO3-supporting evidence

  Pilling et al (2002) analysed 18 studies of family therapy for schizophrenia and found it had a clear effect on reducing relapse rates
• AO3-low risk of side effects

  Again, compared to antipsychotic drugs
• AO3-cost effective


  The Schizophrenia Commission (2012) estimate that family therapy results in cost savings of around £1000 per patient over a 3-year period
• AO3-not suitable for all

  Some schizophrenic patients don't have dysfunctional families and so family therapy is unlikely to be an effective treatment for them