Family interventions in psychosis

People with psychosis experience difficulties with social functioning and tend to have small social networks (see the CPD eLearning module Social functioning in schizophrenia). However, many will have informal caregiving relationships with relatives such as parents, partners and siblings, particularly at first onset.

Cognitive models of caregiving (e.g. Kuipers et al, 2010) highlight the importance of these informal relationships. The NICE clinical guideline Psychosis and schizophrenia in adults: prevention and management (NICE, 2014) recommends family interventions for service users in regular contact with families, as well as supportive interventions for carers themselves.

This module will be of interest to clinicians working with patients with schizophrenia spectrum conditions in in-patient and community settings. We will provide an overview of the impact of the caregiving role and the clinical needs of psychosis patients who have regular contact with families. We will also provide a summary of family-based interventions, evaluating their role in optimising patient outcomes and the current evidence base.