Family therapy as used in the treatment of
schizophrenia
Why family therapy?
May patients with schizophrenia who are discharged from hospital go home to
their families where a high level of emotion was expressed (high EE) such as
hostility, criticism, over-involvement, and over-concern
These patients showed a greater tendency to relapse and be readmitted to the
hospital than those returning to low EE homes
It was almost as it the family caused an emotional change and that
schizophrenia sufferers were more susceptible to it
What is the purpose of family therapy?
Family therapy aims to reduce levels of expressed emotion (EE) – reducing
stress within the family that might contribute to a patient’s risk of relapse
The main objectives of family therapy are:
To get members of the family to be more tolerant and less critical
To help all members of the family feel less guilt and feel less responsible
for causing the illness
To improve positive communication and decrease negative types of
communication
schizophrenia
Why family therapy?
May patients with schizophrenia who are discharged from hospital go home to
their families where a high level of emotion was expressed (high EE) such as
hostility, criticism, over-involvement, and over-concern
These patients showed a greater tendency to relapse and be readmitted to the
hospital than those returning to low EE homes
It was almost as it the family caused an emotional change and that
schizophrenia sufferers were more susceptible to it
What is the purpose of family therapy?
Family therapy aims to reduce levels of expressed emotion (EE) – reducing
stress within the family that might contribute to a patient’s risk of relapse
The main objectives of family therapy are:
To get members of the family to be more tolerant and less critical
To help all members of the family feel less guilt and feel less responsible
for causing the illness
To improve positive communication and decrease negative types of
communication
