Schizophrenia and the Family
| Manual Title |
Schizophrenia and the Family |
| Creator |
Carol M. Anderson, Ph.D. |
| Reference |
Anderson, C.M., Reiss, D.J., & Hogarty, G.E. (1986). Schizophrenia and the family. New York: Guilford. |
| Price |
$42.00 |
| Contact Information: |
Carol M. Anderson, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry
TDH 441 Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh PA, 15260
Phone: (412) 624-0804
Email: andersoncm@msx.upmc.edu
|
Program Overview:
Theoretical Approach:
Anderson et al's book is one of the earliest written manuals outlining family psychoeducation, and many of her ideas have been borrowed / adapted by subsequent programs. Anderson's
approach combines family psychoeducation with techniques from family systems therapies (e.g., reinforce generational boundaries). This model describes patients with schizophrenia as having a "core psychological defect" that interferes with the cognitive processes needed for problem-solving.
Primary Goals:
- Decrease the patient's vulnerability to relapse (by decreasing environmental stimulation and stabilizing medications)
- Increase family stability/predictability (through decreasing the family's anxiety, increasing their knowledge, and increasing their confidence)
Major Areas of Emphasis:
- Increase the family's knowledge of schizophrenia & skills to cope with symptoms
- Reduce family stress by promoting healthy coping skills to deal with crises
- Promote extra-familial social relationships for all family members
- Resolve long-standing family conflicts (in some cases)
Phases of Treatment:
- Single family sessions without patient to engage the family unit
- Multi-family day-long "survival skills workshop" without patients
- Single family sessions with patient
- Continued treatment with declining frequency of contact
Duration: 1-2 years
Manual:
- Includes chapters on: connecting with families, survival skills workshop, re-entry issues, social & vocational rehabilitation & final stages of treatment
- Has a specific outline of the "survival skills workshop" (p. 76) and text on how to provide this workshop (etiology, treatments, coping - time for questions and answers)
- Contains "Living with schizophrenia evaluation form": 11-item scale of 5-point Likert scale questions assessing response to session
Research:
Hogarty et al (1991):
- Methods: 103 consecutively admitted inpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder from high EE homes were randomly assigned to either single-family biweekly psychoeducational group or routine treatment group (all had medication as well)
- Results After 2 years:
- 32% of family psychoeducation group relapsed vs.
- 66% of routine treatment relapsed
- Family treatment also improved patient's social functioning
Notes: A related source: Anderson et al. (1986). Schizophrenia and the Family: A Practitioner's Guide to Psychoeducation and Management (Guilford Family Therapy Series). Guilford, 1986
Above description reviewed and approved by Dr. Anderson, 11-22-02
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