A two year audit of a family therapy clinic in adult psychiatry

Abstract

This paper reports a 2 year audit of a family therapy clinic in a psychiatric department, focusing especially on the relationship between diagnosis and outcome. Patients with affective disorders–especially where anxiety predominated–and eating disorders had good outcome. Structural change occurred in families with psychotic members, even though psychotic symptoms were often unchanged. Difficulties with an acute onset were more responsive than long‐term problems, but a substantial number of the latter did improve. Families receiving between four and 10 sessions had the best outcome, and improvement was generally maintained at 2 year follow‐up.

Brief therapy in adult psychiatry

“…In our study some attenders had lengthy histories but this did not seem directly related to outcome. Chase and Holmes (1990) conducted an audit of family therapy in adult psychiatry over a two-year period. The treatment offered was a mixture of structural and strategic family therapy.…”

Chronic Pain and Family

“…The literature on the merit of family therapy for health problems include studies on stroke (Clark et al, 2003), cancer (Keller and Jost, 2003;Sellers, 2000), diabetes (Hagglund et al, 1996;Satin et al, 1989), anorexia nervosa (Ball, 1999), and depression (Chase and Holmes, 1990;Clarkin et al, 1990;Lebow and Gurman, 1995;Stevenson, 1993;Waring et al, 1995). A comprehensive literature search failed to produce any controlled outcome study for family therapy and chronic pain disorders.…”

Family therapy and dementia: Review and clinical experience

“…The last three may be of particular value in family work with dementia sufferers and their carers. Chase and Holmes (1990) viewed the roles of family therapy differently and suggested three: as a primary agent of change, as a preliminary to the acceptance of treatment, and as an adjuvant to the use of other treatments. If we try to apply these models to dementia, then treatment will need to be interpreted broadly, to incorporate social and psychological management, rather than narrowly as meaning just physical treatments.…”