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Marital therapy when one spouse has a primary affective disorder
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|July 1, 1976
Summary
Treating marital disharmony with primary affective disorder is challenging. Flexible therapists with realistic goals can achieve successful treatment outcomes using a combined psychotherapy and somatotherapy approach.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Family Therapy
Background:
- Marital disharmony presents unique challenges when complicated by a primary affective disorder in one spouse.
- The etiology of affective disorders is complex and often unsubstantiated, complicating treatment approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain the difficulties in treating marital disharmony associated with primary affective disorder.
- To propose an effective treatment strategy for couples facing these challenges.
Main Methods:
- Review of treatment complexities in couples therapy.
- Recommendation of a modified general system theory approach.
Main Results:
- Successful treatment is achievable with therapist flexibility and realistic goal setting.
- A combined psychotherapy and somatotherapy approach is suggested.
Conclusions:
- Flexible and goal-oriented therapeutic interventions are crucial for treating couples with affective disorders.
- A modified general system theory framework integrating psychotherapy and somatotherapy offers a viable treatment path.