Focal Family Therapy: Theory and Practice

Abstract

During the past 30 years, the prescription of neuroleptic medication has made a major impact on the treatment of symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Nonetheless, for many patients, symptom remission and social functioning remain less than optimal. Consequently, clinicians have employed a combined approach of drugs, psychosocial therapies, and psychiatric rehabilitation to treat the range of deficits presented by individuals suffering with this illness. In this article, we describe Focal Family Therapy, a model of family therapy developed for working with families and patients who are struggling with schizophrenia. Using the example of a particular case, we illustrate the following: (a) the identification and formulation of the Focal Issue; (b) the targeting of behavior and attitudes that will constitute the Focal Change; and (c) the techniques of Focal Family Therapy.

The Effect of Family Interventions on Relapse and Rehospitalization in Schizophrenia--A Meta-analysis

“…Fourteen intervention studies had to be excluded because their quality was rated “insufficient.” Four studies (Bäuml et al 1991; McCreadie et al 1991; Schneider et al 1991; Boonen and Bockhorn 1992; McCreadie 1992) provided no control group, nine studies lacked a randomized assignment to one of the treatment conditions (Schindler 1958; Esterson et al 1965; Snyder and Liberman 1981; Köttgen et al 1984; Ehlert 1988; Lewandowski and Buchkremer 1988; MacCarthy et al 1989; Scherrmann and Seizer 1989; Scherrmann et al 1992; Rund et al 1994), and in one study data for group comparisons were missing (Levene et al 1989, 1990).…”