A REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPIES FOR AFFECTIVE-DISORDERS

Although the efficacy of individual treatments for affective disorders has been well-documented, there are also significant limitations to e xisting treatments. In the last decade attention has focused increasin gly on the interpersonal context of affective illness, and on marital and family relationships in particular As a result, a number of approa ches have been developed which directly involve family members in trea tment. In this article we evaluate the current status of marital and f amily therapies for affective illness. We begin with a discussion of s everal lines of research bearing on the relationships between family p rocesses and affective illness. The available treatment outcome data e valuating the efficacy of marital and family interventions are then re viewed, with particular attention paid to predictors of treatment succ ess and cost efficacy issues. Finally we suggest several priorities fo r future research.