Evaluation of family therapy

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Family Therapy Research
• Mental Health Services

Background:

• Children of parents with mental disorders face elevated risks for psychological issues.
• Adult psychiatry increasingly focuses on parental skills in mentally ill patients.
• Family therapy is a recognized intervention for improving family dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in family climate during family therapy.
• To evaluate the impact of therapy on parents' perception of their family environment.
• To understand how family environment changes influence child well-being.

Main Methods:

• Study included 31 families with children under 18.
• Parents were admitted to an open psychiatric ward for family therapy.
• The Family Environment Scale (FES) questionnaire measured family climate changes.
• Average therapy duration was seven sessions.

Main Results:

• Family therapy led to significant positive changes in the family climate.
• Parents reported improved experiences of their family environment post-therapy.
• Common parental diagnoses included severe stress and adjustment disorder.

Conclusions:

• Family therapy is effective in improving the family environment for families with parental mental health challenges.
• Positive changes in family climate are linked to enhanced child well-being and development.
• The findings support the integration of family therapy in psychiatric care for parents.