Family dinamics, social functioning, and quality of life in psychiatric patients

The aim of the study was to describe family dynamics in psychiatric patient s. Correlations between family functioning, social functioning and quality of life were examined. The study was carried out on a regionally representative sample of 297 psyc hiatric inpatient and outpatients and 89 of their relatives. Family cohesio n and adaptability were investigated with the German version of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales. Patients were interviwed with the Social Functioning Questionnaire and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire. About half of the patients (47%) described thei r families as extremely low cohesive themselves, and 20% of the patients de scribed the adaptability as extremely low. Low family cohesion was associat ed with more problems in social functioning, lower quality of life and lowe r subjective well-being in patients. Low adaptability was correlated with w eak social abilities and lower quality of life. The results highlight the importance of programmes which focus on family fu nctioning.