Objective: The study examined differences in outcomes for patients wit
h schizophrenic disorders who were receiving assertive community treat
ment based on whether their families were involved in their treatment
more intensively in psychoeducational multifamily groups or episodical
ly in crisis family intervention. Methods: Sixty-eight individuals who
met DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenic disorders and who had at lea
st one other major complicating factor were randomly assigned to the t
wo treatment conditions, and clinical and functional outcomes over a 2
4-month follow-up period were compared. Results: Both groups had signi
ficant reductions in rehospitalization rates and symptom levels and in
creased participation in treatment. Patients in multifamily group trea
tment had higher employment rates during the study. Otherwise, few sig
nificant differences in the major outcome variables were found. In bot
h treatment conditions family members reported significant improvement
s in their objective and subjective burden; in friction, dissatisfacti
on, and overinvolvement with the patient; and in the patient's functio
ning. Conclusions: The results suggest that systematic family involvem
ent enhances the rehabilitation and family-related outcomes of asserti
ve community treatment. Patients in multifamily group treatment had be
tter employment outcomes.