Multifamily Groups In The Treatment Of Severe Psychiatric Disorders

This volume presents a proven psychoeducational therapy approach for persons with severe mental illness and their families. Pioneering schizophrenia treatment developer William R. McFarlane first lays out the theoretical and empirical foundations of the multifamily model. Chapters coauthored with other leading clinician-researchers then provide detailed "how-to" instructions for forming groups; implementing educational and problem-solving interventions; managing clinical, relationship, and functional issues that may arise; and integrating psychoeducation with other forms of treatment. Also addressed are applications of the model--some described here for the first time--to a variety of disorders other than schizophrenia, including bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and medical illness.

William R. McFarlane, MD, is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont and Director of Research and former Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Maine Medical Center. Previously, he was Director of the Biosocial Treatment Research Division of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. His main interests are in developing and testing family and psychosocial treatments for major mental illnesses and determining their application in the public sector. Dr. McFarlane has published more than 40 articles and book chapters, as well as one previous book, and has served on the Board of Directors of the American Orthopsychiatric Association, on the Council of the Association for Clinical Psychosocial Research, and as President of the Maine Psychiatric Association.