Behavioral Family Therapy for Schizophrenia: Clinical, Social, Family, and Economic Benefits

Abstract

Behavioral family therapy represents a clear departure from the focus on “abnormal” family interaction patterns that has played a prominent role in the psychodynamic and nonbehavioral family theories of schizophrenia. Research and clinical practice, especially with psychodynamic and systemic methods, have sought to examine the detrimental effects of family transactions upon the family member who is experiencing the symptoms of schizophrenia (Fromm-Reichmann, 1948; Lidz, Fleck, and Cornelison, 1965; Jackson and Weakland, 1960; Wynne, Ryckoff, Day, and Hirsch, 1958). Despite formulations to the contrary, the paradoxical approaches of the Milan group (Selvini-Palazzoli, Cechin, Prata, and Boscolo, 1978) have tended to instigate change through the parents of disturbed index patients, indirectly implicating their behavior as detrimental. On the other hand, the behavioral family therapy approach proposes that the family is the basic unit for the promotion of the healthy functioning of all its members, and it is a crucial determinant in the recovery and rehabilitation of those suffering from illness. This natural care giving function of families is considered to be the greatest resource available to the mental health services.