Family Work for Schizophrenia

Book excerpt: The relapse rate of schizophrenia can be substantially reduced by working with the families of sufferers on the everyday problems generated by the illness. This book is a detailed practical guide to intervention. The approach to working with families has been used by hundreds of community staff and has proved helpful with a range of clients in addition to those with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The techniques and strategies included in the guide are clearly described for use by clinical practitioners and are illustrated by case examples. The second edition retains the original sections, including the engaging the family, treading the fine line between working as a therapist and being a guest in the family's home, improving communication, teaching problem-solving and cultural issues. Material has been added on the evidence base for family work for schizophrenia and on the emotional responses of siblings. The guide has been further enriched with the authors' experience of working with families over the ten years since the first edition was published.