FAMILY-THERAPY OF SCHIZOPHRENIA - A REHABILITATIVE APPROACH

A concept for the treatment of schizophrenia is presented. It was deve loped in accordance with import research findings especially about vul nerability, family burden, and expressed emotions. Institutional treat ment of severely ill patients has shaped this approach. The two main s trategies are a reduction of stress in the whole social system and a c areful promotion of the patient's autonomy in close cooperation with h is her relatives. Stress reduction, considered as a powerful tool for relapse prevention, can be achieved above all by a continuous, support ive cooperation with relatives, by providing extensive information reg arding the illness and the treatment, by choosing concrete non-confusi ng topics for the therapy sessions, and by being available in times of crises. In close cooperation between patient, family and therapist a better social functioning and an adequate autonomy of the patient is a chieved through a cautious stepwise procedure over several years. Medi cation, institutional care in social-psychiatric facilities, and other conventional therapeutic tools are integrated in this comprehensive a pproach.