The patient-centred family working group--a medium for collaboration with the "unmotivated" family members. A model and an example.

Abstract

One vital factor which must be changed if a hospitalized mental patient is to stand a chance of staying out of hospital is often the problem-solving capacity of the nuclear family. It is a characteristic of the families of many of our patients that, at the time of hospitalization, they have almost given up hope of solving the problems of the patient concerned and show few signs of ability to adapt or of motivation to define themselves as patients. This paper describes a model and one way of increasing the problem-solving capacity of such a family by inviting the family members to take part in group work where the development and treatment of said patient is the primary goal. The family member is then offered the role of a “co-worker” instead of “patient” or “co-therapist”.