Needs of the families of people with schizophrenia

Family therapy for schizophrenia began in the early 1950s, inspired by theories that located the cause of the illness in family dysfunction. The family pathology was seen as stemming from disturbed relationships (Fromm-Reichmann, 1948; Lidz et al , 1956; Laing & Esterson, 1964) and / or distorted communication (Bateson et al , 1956; Wynne & Singer, 1963).