Schizophrenia through the eyes of families.

The authors contend that families of schizophrenics have received too little help from mental health professionals, even though in many cases families are the real primary care agents for long-term patients released from mental hospitals. They discuss some of the problems that occur in living with a long-term patient and describe mutual-support and advocacy groups that relatives have formed. They emphasize that mental health professionals can help families of schizophrenics by providing practical, realistic advice on how to deal with the illness, by offering empathy and support rather than placing blame, and by working to ensure that there are adequate treatment and rehabilitation services available.