Family Functioning and Mental Illness: A Comparison of Psychiatric and Nonclinical Families

Abstract

The primary objective of the present investigation was to examine adaptive functioning in the families of patients with a wide range of psychiatric disorders. Seven dimensions of family functioning, as measured by the Family Assessment Device (FAD), were compared across families of patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (n = 61), bipolar disorder (n = 60), major depression (n = 111), anxiety disorder (n = 15), eating disorder (n = 26), substance abuse disorder (n = 48), and adjustment disorder (n = 46). Families in each psychiatric group were also compared to a control group of nonclinical families (N = 353). Results indicated that regardless of specific diagnosis, having a family member in an acute phase of a psychiatric illness was a risk factor for poor family functioning compared to the functioning of control families. However, with few exceptions, the type of the patient's psychiatric illness did not predict significant differences in family functioning. Thus, having a family member with a psychiatric illness is a general stressor for families, and family interventions should be considered for most patients who require a psychiatric hospitalization for either the onset of, or an acute exacerbation of, any psychiatric disorder.

Unique Contribution of Family Functioning in Caregivers of Patients with Mild to Moderate Dementia

“…In addition, strong relationships were seen between poor family functioning and caregiver depression and anxiety. Aspects of family functioning have been shown to be dysfunctional in psychiatric disorders [16,18], although our study is one of the few to demonstrate these relationships in dementia caregivers. Compared to previous studies of medical and psychiatric samples, our dementia caregivers exhibited FAD subscales scores that were somewhat worse than medical patients and better than psychiatric samples, particularly for the problem-solving, communication, and general functioning subscales [16].…”

Valoración del estado de salud y psicopatología de los familiares en el trastorno del comportamiento alimentario : diferencias entre cuidadores principales y secundarios

“…Agradecemos la valiosa colaboración de la Asociación de padres ADANER-Madrid, como a todos los familiares que han participado en el estudio. no bipolar, trastorno de ansiedad, abuso de substancias y trastorno adaptativo), se observa el efecto indistinto de tener un familiar con un trastorno mental independientemente de la patología en fase aguda del trastorno o tras ser hospitalizado (Friedman y Mc Dermut, 1997). En cambio, otro estudio muestra que los cuidadores en trastornos alimentarios tienen mayores niveles de malestar y de difi cultades en su rol de cuidador comparado con cuidadores de pacientes psicóticos (Treasure et al, 2001).…”

Avaliação do funcionamento familiar no contexto da saúde mental

“…Outros identificaram as diferenças na percepção do funcionamento familiar entre seus membros 24,25,29 . Estudos comparativos entre famílias com pacientes psiquiátricos e grupo controle também foram realizados 9,12,13,16,17,19,26,28 . Quatro trabalhos avaliaram os resultados do tratamento relacionando-os com mudanças no funcionamento familiar 14,15,18,22 .…”

“…Os estudos comparativos confirmaram que a percepção do funcionamento familiar é mais comprometida nos grupos com pacientes psiquiátricos do que em grupos saudáveis, apontando que as famílias de pacientes do primeiro grupo apresentam maior disfunção 10,12,13,17,20,28 . Em um trabalho realizado com pacientes portadores de diferentes diagnósticos psiquiátricos, concluiu-se que o tipo de transtorno não está relacionado ao funcionamento familiar 17 .…”

“…Em um trabalho realizado com pacientes portadores de diferentes diagnósticos psiquiátricos, concluiu-se que o tipo de transtorno não está relacionado ao funcionamento familiar 17 .…”