Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | 3147 - Family’s transition from a healthy status to a family with a member diagnosed with schizophrenia – the role of family therapy |
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| Contribution code | PS01-67 (P) |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
The loss of dreams and hopes of a person diagnosed with schizophrenia, the emotional tribulation, the oscillation between remission and relapse, the risk of self-harm or aggression, the stigmatization that is derived from the burden of the diagnosis are experienced by a family that has to deal with a member diagnosed with schizophrenia. The objective of this paper is to establish the role of family therapy in supporting a family in accepting a schizophrenia diagnosis and adapting to a new phase – life with a diagnosed member. Methods: researching clinical guidelines (developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, American Psychiatric Association, Canadian Psychiatric Association) and other clinical studies concerning the efficacy of family therapy and its’ different orientations on schizophrenia, in general and in different stages of evolution (prodrome, acute phase, stabilization phase, stable phase, chronic schizophrenia, resistant schizophrenia). Results: the clinical guidelines attest a reduction in the risk of relapse, frequency of hospitalization and severity of symptoms, facilitating the resumption of an independent life and profession, improving social functioning in the person suffering from schizophrenia, as well as reducing the burden and emotional expressiveness of the family. Concerning the type of intervention, the following programmes were noted: The Personal Assessment and Crisis Evaluation Clinic, The Prevention Through Risk Identification, Management and Education for prodrome, Calgary Early Psychosis Program, The Early Psychosis Treatment and Prevention Program, a psychoeducational model for the acute phase, cognitive-behavioral family therapy, Hallucinations Integrated Therapy for chronic schizophrenia, all containing family intervention. Conclusions: family therapy may be practiced during all stages of schizophrenia, for psychoeducational and therapeutic purposes, in mono/multifamilial or mixed form, with greater efficacy if it’s used for an extended period of time. Research has proven the efficacy of family intervention for people diagnosed with schizophrenia, even more so if the family intervention is done early on, for a longer period of time, the training of the person doing the intervention is more riguros, of higher quality, with similar results in different sociocultural contexts and expanding to family members that offer support for the patient. |