Family management in the prevention of morbidity of schizophrenia: the adjustment of the family unit.

Changes in the functioning of family members were assessed during a randomly controlled study of community management of schizophrenia. Eighteen families who completed two years community management based upon behavioural family therapy were compared with 18 families who received patient oriented management with family support. Families receiving family management reported less disruption of activities, reductions in physical and mental health problems, and less subjective burden than those receiving the patient oriented approach. It is concluded that the benefits of family management extend beyond the reduction in clinical and social morbidity of the index patient to beneficial effects for the family as a whole.