Multifamily Group Research Articles

The Cultural Adaptation of a Transition Program for Latino Families of Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

During the transition to adulthood, effective and culturally relevant supports are critical for families of youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is a dearth of documented program development and research on supports for Spanish-speaking Latino families during this life stage. The present work describes the cultural adaptation process of an evidence-based transition program for Latino families of youth with ASD. A model of the actions necessary to meaningfully conduct a cultural adaptation in this context is described. After implementing the culturally adapted program titled Juntos en la Transición with five Spanish-speaking families, parents reported high social validity of the program through surveys and interviews. The cultural adaptation process followed in this work is important for the further development of programs that address the transition needs of Latino youth with ASD and their families. Our impressions may also be useful to those who aim to develop culturally sensitive and ecologically valid multifamily group intervention programs for families from cultural and linguistic minority groups.

Aunando esfuerzos: Grupos multifamiliares en el abordaje de los trastornos de la alimentación

In this article we review the concept of multifamily group, its historical development, the benefits and objectives of this intervention, the role of the therapist in these groups and some technical aspects. We also review some research about its application in the Eating Disorder (ED). Finally, we describe our experience in the Unit of Eating Disorders at the Santa Cristina University Hospital in Madrid, explaining both the work methodology and the issues addressed in the groups and we share some of the impressions of our patients and their families about it. Although this type of intervention has great therapeutic potential, it should not be used as the only treatment modality in eating disorders.

Latina/o Children Living With an Immigrant Mother With Depression: Developmental and Cultural Nuances in Recognition and Coping.

The psychological experience of maternal depression and its impact on immigrant Latina/o families often goes unrecognized and unaddressed. Children may feel especially helpless and confused about the changes they observe in their mothers' mood and behavior, and about the deterioration of family relationships. Given the interdependence of family structures of immigrant Latina/o households, maternal depression can be detrimental to Latina/o youth attributions and coping strategies, and to their relationship with their mothers. The quantitative focus of most research on maternal depression in Latina/o samples limits our understanding of family processes in maternal depression. The current qualitative study explores the perceived impact of maternal depression on Latina/o youths' attributions and coping strategies. This inquiry involved focus groups with 12 participants aged 9-16years to explore their perspectives on maternal depression. All youth had participated in a 12-week multifamily group intervention focused on building family and cultural strengths to address maternal depression on immigrant Latina/o families. Findings of the focus groups illuminated the essential experience of youth living with maternal depression, and indicated that there are developmental considerations for how youth recognize and make meaning of maternal depression, and cope with disrupted family life. Additionally, youth reported engaging in these culture-specific ways of coping: using close sibling relationships and family structure as support, having fathers and extended family members engage in additional and restorative parenting practices, and participating in religious practices to seek refuge from family stress. We propose considerations for intervention and further areas of research.

Multifamilygroups as a Psychosocial and Contextoriented Intervention for Somatic Illness and Disability

Multifamilygroups as a Psychosocial and Contextoriented Intervention for Somatic Illness and Disability This paper provides a detailed description of a multi-family group (MFG) intervention designed for children with disabilities or chronical somatic disease and their families based on a systemic model. A mixed-methods study examines the perspectives of the participating family members regarding specific intervention components and the therapeutic process and its outcomes of this heterogeneous, closed MFG. Problem-centered interviews and questionnaires were used. Attendance of and satisfaction with the group were high. Specific intervention components such as the provided therapeutic environment and the mutual support that was facilitated by offering different opportunities for contact with families in similar situations are highlighted as particularly helpful. Increased feelings of parental togetherness and competence were reported. Results suggest that this MFG for families of children with chronic diseases or disabilities is highly feasible for these families.

Intervention effects on reflectivity explain change in positive parenting in military families with young children.

Military families with young children often experience stress related to the unique circumstances of military families (e.g., deployment), and there is a need for interventions that are specifically tailored to military families with young children. The Strong Military Families (SMF) intervention responds to this need, and consists of two versions: A Multifamily Group (N = 34), and a Homebased psychoeducational written material program (N = 42; treated as the comparison group in this report). The Multifamily Group utilized an attachment-based parenting education curriculum and in vivo support of separations and reunions, encouraged peer support among parents, and connected families to additional services. In the present nonrandomized trial, we examine intervention effects on observed parenting behavior and affect, and test whether changes in parenting reflectivity account for intervention-related changes in observed parenting. Observed parenting behavior and affect were coded from the Caregiver-Child Structured Interaction Procedure (Crowell & Fleischmann, 1993), and parenting reflectivity was coded from the Working Model of the Child Interview (Zeanah & Benoit, 1995). Results suggest that relative to Homebased participants, Multifamily Group participants showed pre- and post- improvements in aspects of positive parenting (Emotional Responsivity, Positive Affect), but no decreases in negative parenting. The efficacy of the SMF Multifamily Group intervention does not appear to depend on parent risk level or preintervention parent behavior and affect. Further, a mediation model demonstrated that the intervention effects on parents' observed positive affect in an interaction task with their child were partially accounted for by intervention-related changes in their parenting reflectivity. (PsycINFO Database Record

Multifamily Therapy for Children With ADHD in Hong Kong: The Different Impacts on Fathers and Mothers

Objective: Medication combined with psychosocial intervention is the recommended treatment for ADHD. What is not clear is which of the parents participate in psychosocial interventions, and whether the impacts are different for fathers and mothers. This is important because of the different roles fathers and mothers have in shaping their child’s development. This article examines the impact of multifamily therapy on a sample of fathers and mothers from Hong Kong whose children suffer from ADHD. Method: Fathers and mothers ratings on ADHD severity, parent–child relationship, parenthood stress, and parental self-esteem were compared between those who attended multifamily therapy and those who attended psychoeducation talks. Results: Fathers and mothers of the multifamily group, but not the psychoeducational group, reported reduction of child ADHD symptom severity. When the reduction was clinically significant, mothers reported an increased sense of competence while fathers reported improved father–child relationship. Conclusion: Fathers and mothers experienced different gains from attending MFT. Fathers’ involvement in their child’s treatment should be encouraged and facilitated.

Development of Multi-Family Group and Mindfulness Treatment for Chronic Pain: Preliminary Outcomes

Development of Multi-Family Group and Mindfulness Treatment for Chronic Pain: Preliminary Outcomes

STRONG MILITARY FAMILIES INTERVENTION ENHANCES PARENTING REFLECTIVITY AND REPRESENTATIONS IN FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

Military families face many challenges due to deployment and parental separation, and this can be especially difficult for families with young children. The Strong Military Families (SMF) intervention is for military families with young children, and consists of two versions: the Multifamily Group, and a Home-based psychoeducational written materials program. The Multifamily Group was designed to enhance positive parenting through both educational components and in vivo feedback and support during separations and reunions between parents and children (n = 78 parents). In the present study, we examine parenting reflectivity and mental representations in mothers versus fathers in military families, service members versus civilian spouses/parenting partners, and before versus after participation in the SMF Multifamily Group and Home-based interventions. Parenting reflectivity and mental representations were coded from the Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI; C.H. Zeanah & D. Benoit, 1995). Results suggest that neither parenting reflectivity nor WMCI typology differs between mothers and fathers in military families, or between service members and civilian parenting partners. Furthermore, there was substantial stability in parenting reflectivity and WMCI typology from baseline to posttest, but participation in the Multifamily Group, relative to Home-based, was associated with improvements in both parenting reflectivity and WMCI ratings from baseline to postintervention.

Multi Family Group Analysis-(MFGA)

Psicoanalisis Multifamiliar was created by Jorge Garcia Badaracco in Buenos Aires in the programme of some psychiatric hospitals in the middle of the last century (Badaracco, 2000): patients together with their families meet on a regular basis to foster their treatment. The author suggests the translation of «Psicoanalisis multifamiliar» into Multi Family Group Analysis. This kind of groups was introduced in Portugal by the author in 2001. They were added to the treatment programme of a psychiatric Day Hospital in Lisbon. This Day Hospital has got a psychoanalytic and group analytic framework, since 1977. The author and her team have found Group Analysis, its concepts and training, as a very much important tool to manage these complex groups. Therefore the author has proposed the concept of Multi Family Group Analysis. The author will describe the aims, characteristics and evolution of this kind of groups which have been run since 2001 on a fortnight basis. The basic concepts which underlie them will be referred as well as the results. The author and her team consider that this group is an important therapeutic and prophylactic tool as well as a way of a pre and post graduate training. Keywords: Psychoanalisis multifamiliar, group analysis, psychiatric treatment programmes, psychopathology, multi family group, MFGA.

Transitioning Together: A Multi-family Group Psychoeducation Program for Adolescents with ASD and Their Parents.

Currently there are few evidence-based programs available for families of individuals withASD during the transition to adulthood. The present study provided a preliminary evaluation of a multi-family group psychoeducation intervention using a randomized waitlist control design (n = 41). Families in the intervention condition participated in Transitioning Together, an 8-week program designed to reduce family distress and improve social functioning for adolescents. Findings indicated significant improvements in parental depressive symptoms and problem solving from pre- to post-intervention for parents in the intervention condition but not for parents in the control condition. Social interactions also improved for youth in the intervention condition relative to controls. Parents reported satisfaction with the program and particularly valued the opportunity to interact with other families.

A Revised Multifamily Group Curriculum: The Need for Family Member Recovery from Addiction

This article presents a revised curriculum for a family program developed for family members who are participating in a family program at a residential treatment for addiction. The article consists...

79.3 Families Rate Multifamily Psychoeducation Groups for Medically Ill Youth as Helpful

The goal of this session is to present the rationale for and specific techniques of a brief multifamily psychoeducational group as a preventative and therapeutic intervention for youth suffering from asthma, their siblings, and parents. Family-rated attitudinal changes from a series of standardized multifamily groups will be presented.

5.59 Characteristics of Families Participating in Multifamily Group Therapy for Children in a Long-Term Psychiatric Inpatient Program

Multifamily group therapy (MFGT) has been used in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings to facilitate parental skill development with children who have emotional, social, or behavioral problems. This study looked for similarities and differences among parents of children receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment in a long-term placement program.

An Adjunctive Multi-family Group Intervention with or without Patient Participation during an Inpatient Treatment for Adolescents with an Eating Disorder: A Pilot Study.

This study reports on a pilot study of a family group intervention with or without patient participation adjunctive to a specialized inpatient treatment for eating disorders (EDs). Participants were 112 female adolescent ED inpatients and one or both of their parents. The parents were invited to participate in an adjunctive multi-family group with patient (MFT) or in a similar multi-parent group without patient participation (MPT). Questionnaires assessing ED symptoms, family functioning and caregiving experiences were administered before and after intervention. Post-intervention results obtained from both patient and parent(s) indicated that improvement in ED symptoms and parental burden occurred after both types of interventions. Family functioning improved differently according to the informant: fathers reported an improvement of general family functioning, patients reported an improvement of problem solving and mothers reported a decrease in problem solving across both formats. This study emphasized the importance of including a multi-informant approach in family interventions. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Piloting the multi-family approach in community-based rehabilitation: an observational and interview-based study

BackgroundIn Palestine, as in many societies, children with a physical or mental disability and their families often experience stress related to stigma and isolation. Over the course of one year, the community-based rehabilitation programme in the north of the West Bank pioneered a multi-family group approach, originally developed in the UK, to facilitate six support groups for a total of approximately 50 mothers of children with a disability. The method is based on the premise that people who share similar situations can provide company, stress relief, and practical problem-solving ideas to each other. MethodsWe conducted intervention research into the implementation and adaptation of the multi-family group approach to the local context. This research included systematic participatory observation of group sessions, reflection meetings, and training workshops, and informal interviews with 12 community-based rehabilitation workers and supervisors throughout the process of design of the project, initial specialist training of community health workers, and on-the-job mentoring. We conducted systematic comparative analysis of all observation notes and informal interviews. We obtained ethics approval and informed consent. FindingsCommunity-based rehabilitation teams gradually gained confidence in co-facilitating groups using the multi-family group approach techniques. The sessions combined enjoyment and relaxation with serious discussions over shared personal, family, and community experiences, and provided the participants with new ways for seeking and offering support. Over time, observations in sessions and interviews with mothers and group facilitators suggested that social isolation among group members diminished and mothers became more active in the group and the wider community. InterpretationThe multi-family group approach has meant that the group participants are no longer merely programme beneficiaries but have become active participants in the psychosocial component of community-based rehabilitation. Although in the West this approach is mostly implemented by specialists, our study shows that with intensive training and on-the-job mentoring, community health workers can successfully adapt the method to develop social support networks for mothers of children with a disability in Palestinian and possibly other non-Western settings. FundingWar Trauma Foundation (Netherlands).

Research and psychosocial intervention with families of children and adolescents with eating disorders and obesity

Eating disorders and obesity in children and adolescents have been calling researchers and public health institutions’ attention due to severity and increasing incidence in the last decades. Studies on etiological factors of diseases related to alimentation are important to justify more efficient treatment methodologies. The family participation has been suggested by authors of systems theory, motivating us to study this issue from the point of view of individual, family and socio-cultural. This paper aims to present research data to construct a psychosocial attendance methodology to children and adolescents with eating disorders and obesity and their families. The method used is qualitative and includes a family life cycle interview, Multifamily Group, children and adolescents groups and the use of Rorschach test in adolescents. Partial data show that parents’ life history has influence on eating pattern of family; the genitors don’t comprehend the obesity as a multi-factorial syndrome and don’t recognize that their children are obese and have difficulty setting boundaries in general and regarding to food; conjugal and parental conflicts and grandparents interference have negative influence on children dietary and on treatment of obesity and eating disorders; the use of Rorschach test has identified: low self-esteem, anguish and distorted self and body perceptions, self-concept and self-image distortions in adolescents with eating disorders and depressive thoughts, dependency, fear of abandonment and distortion between ideal and real images in obese adolescents. These data are in accordance with bibliographic review regarding to family influence on each member’s health development and on family eating pattern. Parents and adults have a central role as in orientation and education as presenting appropriate models in terms of alimentation.

The BUFFET Program: Development of a Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Selective Eating in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Selective eating (often referred to as "picky" eating) is common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across the lifespan. Behavioral interventions are widely used to treat selective eating; however, most of these programs are time intensive, have not been evaluated for use in outpatient settings, and do not typically include youth beyond early childhood. Despite the functional impact and risk for negative outcomes associated with selective eating, there are no empirically supported treatments available for older children, adolescents, or adults, either with or without ASD. To address this treatment gap, we developed BUFFET: the Building Up Food Flexibility and Exposure Treatment program. BUFFET is a 14-week, multi-family group cognitive behavioral treatment for selective eating in children (8-12years) with ASD. In this paper, we will (1) discuss the theoretical conceptualization of BUFFET, (2) describe the treatment content and structure, (3) present feasibility data from the initial pilot trial, and (4) consider next steps in treatment development.

Brief family psycho-education program for caregivers of inpatients with severe mental illness

IntroductionFamily psycho-education is an essential part of the treatment for people with severe mental illness (SMI), however this relevant intervention is underutilized. Shortened variations of family psycho-education have been described in attempts to make it more attractive, efficient, and feasible.Objectives/aimsConsidering the lack of manualized intervention for families in Brazil, our study comes up with a proposal to implement and to evaluate the feasibility of brief family psycho-education program (BFPP) during inpatient psychiatric treatment.MethodsAn extensive review using a combination of the words: “family psychoeducation”; “severe mental illness”; “schizophrenia”; “bipolar disorder” was conducted in PubMed/Medline with the aim to select reports of multifamily group psycho-educational programs. Studies involving adults with severe mental illness published until March 2016 were included.ResultsAfter the review of literature and meeting with experts in SMI, the BFPP was developed collaboratively by bipolar disorders’ team at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). The standard BFPP consists of four sessions: (1) causes, symptoms, course, prognosis and stigma of severe mental disorder; (2) treatment; (3) community resources, communication skills and importance of healthy and regular habits; and (4) problem-solving strategies: preventing relapses and establishing plans for crisis. Each session will occur weekly, lasting 90 min, with 8–12 caregivers. The patients did not attend the group.ConclusionWe purposed a standard, brief, cheap and simple intervention to apply. We believe that BFPP is highly suitable for caregivers of patients with SMI. We hope that this program demonstrates feasibility among participants and become a useful and effective intervention.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Culturally Adapted Psychosocial Interventions for Schizophrenia: A Review

Recent research examining the potential efficacy of culturally adapted interventions for various mental disorders illustrates increasing interest in the integration of cultural perspectives into mental health systems. Despite recent evidence demonstrating that culturally adapted interventions may be more effective than a one-size-fits-all approach, few psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia consider cultural factors that may enhance their efficacy with diverse populations. The aim of this review is to discuss the empirical evidence examining the potential utility of culturally adapted group interventions for schizophrenia, as a means to encourage further work and expansion in this area. Specifically, this article provides an in-depth review of the empirical literature on culturally adapted psychosocial interventions for individuals with schizophrenia and their family members, with a focus on group-based interventions. This review is followed by a discussion of a few cultural constructs that may impact patient and family member functioning, and therefore may be important to address in psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia. Finally, we end this review with a broad discussion of research limitations and potential areas for additional research, clinical implications for adapting EBTs to better address cultural concerns, and a case vignette to illustrate how cultural considerations can be integrated into a traditional multifamily group therapy approach.

Patients', Family Members', and Professional Carers' Experiences of Psychoeducational Multifamily Groups for Participants with Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Illness

There is a dearth of articles addressing psychoeducational multifamily groups for adults with intellectual disabilities. The objective of this study is to investigate the participants' experiences of being part of a group like this. The group intervention had been slightly modified due to the participants' intellectual disabilities. Four patients, their close relatives, and community professional caregivers were interviewed using a semi-structured scheme. The four patients had participated in different groups. Three of them had autism spectrum disorder in addition to intellectual disabilities and mental illness. None of the patients were in the most acute phase during the group intervention. Topics discussed in the group sessions encompassed friendship, personal economy, hygiene, understanding of mental illness, and the need for help. A basic meal was served at every group meeting. The experiences were favorable.