Schizophrenia and the family

It is now dear that ideas suggested by research interventions with psychotic patients and their families can be adapted to the long-term group. In this group the differing needs of patients, carers, and not least staff, need to be considered for such approaches to be successful. In this paper I propose aims of intervention, together with possible modes of delivery. Specific strategies for offering help are described for dealing with criticism, over-involvement, emotional processing and problem solving. Such interventions need to be considered routinely to enable long-term patients and their families to cope more effectively in the community with the severe problems they face.