Focal Family Therapy Outcome Study I: Patient and Family Functioning*

1989 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 641-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith E. Levene ◽  
Francis Newman ◽  
J.J. Jefferies
Keyword(s):  
Family Therapy ◽  
Family Functioning ◽  
Poor Responders ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Time Out ◽  
The Family ◽  
Community Tenure ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Supportive Management

This pilot study compared the efficacy of two models of family therapy plus medication in the treatment of ten schizophrenic patients previously considered poor responders to neuroleptics alone. Focal Family Therapy (FFT), a limited psychodynamic model, was compared with Supportive Management Counselling (SMC), an educative, problem-solving approach. Family treatment was begun during admission to hospital and continued for up to six months post-discharge. Patient and family measures were administered on assessment, termination, and at three, six and 12 month follow-up interviews. Our data suggest that patients in both groups improved significantly following treatment on measures of social functioning and community tenure. The average increase in amount of time out of hospital was a full year, compared to previous rates. Patients receiving FFT demonstrated significantly greater improvement in symptoms, compared to patients in the SMC group. On average, families scored in the normal range on the family functioning measure at assessment and upon termination of treatment.

Prevention of Progression to Severe Obesity in a Group of Obese Schoolchildren Treated With Family Therapy

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 880-884
Author(s):  
Carl-Erik Flodmark ◽  
Torsten Ohlsson ◽  
Olof Rydén ◽  
Tomas Sveger
Keyword(s):  
Family Therapy ◽  
Conventional Treatment ◽  
Severe Obesity ◽  
Therapy Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Obese Children ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Conventional Treatment Group ◽  
The Family

Study objective. To evaluate the effect of family therapy on childhood obesity. Design. Clinical trial. One year follow-up. Setting. Referral from school after screening. Participants. Of 1774 children (aged 10 to 11), screened for obesity, 44 obese children were divided into two treatment groups. In an untreated control group of 50 obese children, screened in the same manner, body mass index (BMI) values were recorded twice, at 10 to 11 and at 14 years of age. Intervention. Both treatment groups received comparable dietary counseling and medical checkups for a period of 14 to 18 months, while one of the groups also received family therapy. Results. At the 1-year follow-up, when the children were 14 years of age, intention-to-treat analyses were made of the weight and height data for 39 of 44 children in the two treatment groups and for 48 of the 50 control children. The increase of BMI in the family therapy group was less than in the conventional treatment group at the end of treatment, and less than in the control group (P = .04 and P = .02, respectively). Moreover, mean BMI was significantly lower in the family therapy group than in the control group (P < .05), and the family therapy group also had fewer children with BMI > 30 than the control group (P = .02). The reduction of triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses, expressed as percentages of the initial values, was significantly greater in the family therapy group than in the conventional treatment group (P = .03, P = .005 and P = .002, respectively), and their physical fitness was significantly better (P < .05). Conclusions. Family therapy seems to be effective in preventing progression to severe obesity during adolescence if the treatment starts at 10 to 11 years of age.

Multifamily Group Therapy: Impact on Family Functioning and Child Behavior

1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Meezan ◽  
Maura O'Keefe
Keyword(s):  
Family Therapy ◽  
Group Therapy ◽  
Social Competence ◽  
Family Functioning ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Traditional Family ◽  
End Of Treatment ◽  
The Family ◽  
Treatment Changes

The authors compare the effectiveness of multifamily group therapy (MFGT) with traditional family therapy with abusive and neglectful caregivers and their children. Positive changes in the family functioning of the MFGT group occurred in areas critical to the reduction of child abuse and neglect, whereas changes in the family functioning of those in traditional family therapy occurred only in the area of parental support. The MFGT group children became significantly more assertive and less submissive according to their self-report and, according to their caregivers, showed significantly fewer overall behavior problems and greater social competence at the end of treatment. Changes in the children in the comparison group were not self-reported and did not occur in the area of social competence. These positive findings argue that agencies should consider adopting this modality in the treatment of this population and that it should be included as a treatment option in family-centered child welfare services.

A Trial of Family Therapy v. a Relatives Group for Schizophrenia

1989 ◽  
Vol 154 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Leff ◽  
Ruth Berkowitz ◽  
Naomi Shavit ◽  
Angus Strachan ◽  
Ilana Glass ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Therapy ◽  
Relapse Rate ◽  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Social Interventions ◽  
The Family ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Therapy Sessions

Schizophrenic patients living in high contact with relatives having high expressed emotion (EE) were recruited for a trial of social interventions. The patients were maintained on neuroleptic medication, while their families were randomly assigned to education plus family therapy or education plus a relatives group. Eleven out of 12 families accepted family therapy in the home, whereas only six out of 11 families were compliant with the relatives group. Non-compliance was associated with a poorer outcome for the patients in terms of the relapse rate. The relapse rate over nine months in the family therapy stream was 8%, while that in compliant families in the relatives group stream was 17%. Patients' social functioning showed small, non-significant, gains. The data from the current trial were compared with data from a previous trial. The lowering of the relapse rate in schizophrenia appears to be mediated by reductions in relatives' EE and/or face-to-face contact, and is not explained by better compliance with medication. Reduction in EE and/or contact was associated with a minuscule relapse rate (5%). Very little change occurred in families who were non-compliant with the relatives group. On the basis of these findings, we recommend that the most cost-effective procedure is to establish relatives groups in conjunction with family education and one or more initial family therapy sessions in the home. It is particularly important to offer home visits to families who are unable to or refuse to attend the relatives groups.

The preliminary effects of a recreation-based military family camp on family functioning

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 15-24
Author(s):  
Brent L. Hawkins, PhD, CTRS ◽  
Jasmine A. Townsend, PhD, CTRS ◽  
Sandra E. Heath, MS, CTRS ◽  
Kate Lipton, CTRS
Keyword(s):  
Family Functioning ◽  
Military Families ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Military Family ◽  
Family Interactions ◽  
The Family ◽  
Therapeutic Camp ◽  
Family Connections ◽  
Meaningful Connections

Recreation-based programing has emerged as a therapeutic service for military families to readjust and improve family functioning after military deployments. This mixed methods study attempted to understand the changes in family functioning during and after a recreation-based therapeutic camp for military families. Pre-post-follow up survey data were collected from families who attended the camp. Results indicated no statistically significant changes in the family functioning across time points; however, qualitative data indicated the camp provided a unique environment to foster other elements of family functioning not measured (eg, family interactions, between family connections). Intentionally creating opportunities for military families to recreate at camp may help facilitate meaningful connections; however, more targeted programing efforts based on assessed, individualized family goals may elicit stronger family functioning outcomes.

scholarly journals Family Therapy and Young Abusers

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-37
Author(s):  
Siri Søftestad ◽  
Margareth Bjørtvedt ◽  
Jorunn Haga ◽  
Karin E. Hildén
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Family Therapy ◽  
Treatment Program ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Multiprofessional Team ◽  
The Family ◽  
Experienced Child ◽  
And Control

This article focuses on young abusers participating in a treatment program for families where one or more children have experienced child sexual abuse and/or have abused other children. TVERS is a multiprofessional team where the treatment is performed within a frame of control ,“care and control hand in hand”. Three trained family therapists from three different agencies come together and form the therapy. The caseworker from the child care protection service (Children`s Service) becomes a part of the TVERS-team during their therapeutic work with the young abuser and his family. The therapists are given access to all reports and documents from the police, the court and medical services. The caseworker can follow up the family between appointments as well as initiate child protection procedures if necessary. The article describes our experience of working with families where the son in the family has abused other children outside or inside their own family.

Comparison of Outcomes of Behavioral Family Therapy Given Families with Children and Families with Adolescents

1987 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-162
Author(s):  
J. Bailey Molineux ◽  
Tom Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Family Therapy ◽  
Family Functioning ◽  
Behavioral Intervention ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Behaviorally Disordered ◽  
Behavioral Family Therapy ◽  
Time Out ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Unacceptable Behavior ◽  
Families With Children

In a modified replication of an earlier study, 92 parents from 55 families with behaviorally disordered offspring were telephoned 6 to 12 months after termination of therapy to inquire about the presenting problem and family functioning. In the Child Program, 28 families were taught to decide on clear rules, reward acceptable behavior, and give time-out for unacceptable behavior. In the Adolescent Program, 27 families were taught communication, negotiating, and contracting skills. A significant difference was found in reported improvement between families who completed treatment and those who dropped out for the presenting problem but not for family functioning. Significantly more parents in the Child Program reported an improvement than those in the Adolescent Program. Children may respond more favorably to a behavioral intervention by their parents than adolescents because parents of children have greater control and there is less chronicity of misbehavior.

Session 1: Getting Started in Family Treatment

2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Tara S. Peris ◽  
John Piacentini
Keyword(s):  
Family Therapy ◽  
Family Functioning ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Treatment Success ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Family Treatment ◽  
Treatment Goals ◽  
Collaborative Environment ◽  
The Family

This chapter provides an overview of the first family therapy session. It describes how to introduce families to the PFIT program and to develop a collaborative environment for establishing treatment goals. It describes psychoeducation about the role of the family in child OCD treatment, including family responses and expectations that may undermine success. It places particular emphasis on helping families to understand patterns of symptom accommodation that may be a barrier to treatment success, and it describes broader family dynamics that may interfere with efforts to change accommodation. The chapter also outlines steps for assessing current family functioning, including strengths and weakness, and for evaluating the family’s current strategies for managing OCD. Initial skills training begins with exercises designed to promote positivity in the home environment.

A Trial of Family Therapy versus a Relatives' Group for Schizophrenia

1990 ◽  
Vol 157 (4) ◽  
pp. 571-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Leff ◽  
R. Berkowitz ◽  
N. Shavit ◽  
A. Strachan ◽  
I. Glass ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Therapy ◽  
Relapse Rate ◽  
Social Intervention ◽  
Previous Trial ◽  
Neuroleptic Drugs ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Family ◽  
Relapse Rates ◽  
Risk Of Relapse

The results are reported of a two-year follow-up of a trial of family sessions in the home (including patients) (12 families) versus a relatives' group (excluding patients) (11 families). Subjects were patients with schizophrenia living in high face-to-face contact with high-EE relatives. Patients were maintained on neuroleptic drugs for two years where possible. Relatives' critical comments and hostility were significantly lowered by nine months, but no significant changes occurred subsequently. Relatives' overinvolvement reduced steadily throughout the trial, and reduction in relatives' EE, either alone or in combination with reduced face-to-face contact, appeared to be associated with a lower relapse rate. The relapse rates for patients in the family-therapy and relatives’-group streams were 33% and 36% at two years. When these data were combined with the results of a previous trial, it was found that patients in families assigned to any form of social intervention had a two-year relapse rate of 40%, significantly lower than the 75% relapse rate for patients whose families were offered no help. We therefore recommend that relatives' groups are established in conjunction with some family sessions in the home for patients at high risk of relapse.

The Interface of Pediatric Oncology and the Family

1982 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29
Author(s):  
C. George Fitzgerald ◽  
William Hammelman
Keyword(s):  
Family Therapy ◽  
Pediatric Oncology ◽  
Family Intervention ◽  
Family Assessment ◽  
The Family ◽  
Clinical Cases

Develops the use of family therapy theory and technique with the families of children who have cancer. Three clinical cases are presented with the chaplain making the family intervention. Family assessment and follow-up are stressed.

scholarly journals The Genogram in Helping Relationship

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Lejda Abazi
Keyword(s):  
Family Therapy ◽  
Family Therapist ◽  
Palo Alto ◽  
Parental Relationships ◽  
Genealogical Tree ◽  
Helping Relationship ◽  
Murray Bowen ◽  
Graphical Tool ◽  
The Family ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients

The Genogram is a graphical tool used by family therapists to systematize the chronologically and the composition of the family in question and parental relationships within it. The family therapist draws the genogram of the family and analyzing it as a team, draws on assumptions and dysfunctional aspects of strategic solutions that will then occur in session. The Genogram certainly draws from the idea of genealogical tree, but its attribution of authorship is clearly not shared. According to Anne A. Shutzenberger [1], for some it is traced back to Genososciogramma Henry Collomb, from genealogy (family tree) and Sociogram (representation of links and relationships), which he developed in Dakar and exhibited in Nice in 1978, starting from the reflections JL Moreno; for others it is traced back to Murray Bowen (referring to the conference on family therapy in 1967) and then to the conceptualization of the Group of Palo Alto [2] in California. In fact, for both processing paths of the genogram, distances seem shorter epistemological finding themselves in a ring of union in Frieda Fromm-Reichman, the first researcher who started filming family sessions with schizophrenic patients in 1948, and that in 1956 has worked with Moreno in Stanford [3] writing a book with him for four hands [4], with which the Group of Palo Alto [5], marking the birth of the Family Therapy. In truth, says still Shutzenberger, the genesis of Genogram seems to be rooted in the oldest soils, contains itself the concepts of "das Umbewusste" and "Collective Psyche" by S. Freud, and of "collective unconscious" of CG Jung.

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