Impact of Multiple-Family Groups for Outpatients With Schizophrenia on Caregivers' Distress and Resources

Abstract

Multiple-family group treatment reduced caregivers' distress but did not increase caregivers' resources relative to standard psychiatric care.

The 2009 Schizophrenia PORT Psychosocial Treatment Recommendations and Summary Statements

“…In terms of positive family outcomes, Magliano et al 154 found that family members receiving the family psychoeducation intervention reported increased perceptions of professional and social support. Hazel et al 155 reported caregiver outcomes from the study conducted by the Dyck et al 153 and found that caregivers involved in the multiple family group intervention reported lower levels of distress relative to those involved in standard outpatient treatment.…”

The Ability of Multifamily Groups to Improve Treatment Adherence in Mexican Americans With Schizophrenia

“…14,15 McFarlane's MultiFamily Group (MFG) treatment is a behavioral family treatment that combines psychoeducation and skills training 16 ; MFG has been shown to lower relapse rates, improve social functioning, and decrease caregiver burden relative to customary care. [17][18][19][20][21] Only 1 previous study 18 of MFG has demonstrated improved adherence in patients with schizophrenia. Although MFG has features compatible with a cultural perspective, 22 we decided to test a cultural adaptation of the MFG that integrates throughout treatment the role of the sociocultural worlds of this largely immigrant Mexican-origin community.…”

Clinician Integrity in Multiple Family Groups: Psychometric Properties and Relationship with Schizophrenia Client and Caregiver Outcomes

“…Relative to SFP approaches, MFGT compares favorably in reducing psychiatric relapse and increasing functional outcomes (McFarlane, Link, Dushay, Marchal, & Crilly, 1995;McFarlane, Lukens, et al, 1995). When compared to a standard care group, MFGT has shown reductions in negative symptoms, inpatient service utilization, and caregiver distress in an outpatient community mental health setting (Dyck et al, 2000;Dyck, Hendryx, Short, Voss, & McFarlane, 2002;Hazel et al, 2004;McDonell, Short, Hazel, Berry & Dyck, 2006). As a result of this empirical support of family psycho-education in general, and MFGT the format specifically, MFGT is currently being disseminated throughout the United States through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration's (SAMHSA; 2003) Toolkit for Empirically Supported Treatments.…”