FAMILY DIAGNOSTICS OF PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDE RS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

There are far more publications about family therapy than about family diagnostics. According to an old medical principle, however, diagnosi s should always come first and therapy should follow. To help remedy t his situation, over the past 15 years we have developed a family diagn ostic inventory that is useful in clinical practice and allows develop ment of adequate therapeutic approaches on the basis of a careful fami ly diagnosis. The Marburg Family Diagnostic Scales, a part of this inv entory, are described and their use is illustrated by examples from a clinical case report. The scales have shown to be useful for therapy p lanning and for the evaluation of family oriented interventions.