Hinden Beth R, Biebel Kathleen, Nicholson Joanne, Henry Alexis, Katz-Leavy Judith
Department of Psychiatry, Center for Mental Health Services Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
J Behav Health Serv Res. 2006 Jan;33(1):21-38. doi: 10.1007/s11414-005-9007-x.
Little is known about the effectiveness of interventions for families living with parental mental illness. Existing interventions offer information about successfully implemented treatments, which may demonstrate effectiveness in research. In the current study, directors of programs for parents with mental illness and their families were interviewed. Qualitative analyses revealed noteworthy similarities with respect to target population; funding; community context; agency context; mission, theoretical orientation, and assumptions; locus of care and essential services; desired outcomes; and moderators. Program similarities were identified to provide parameters for research, and to contribute to the development of testable hypotheses. Family-centered, strengths-based approaches were identified across program directors as critical to intervention success.
