Families are central to psychiatric rehabilitation, providing emotional, practical, and advocacy support that enables recovery for individuals with serious mental illness. Despite growing endorsement of family-centered care, the literature remains dispersed across diagnoses, service models, and disciplines, and there is limited synthesis of how families are engaged across psychiatric rehabilitation over time. This scoping review synthesizes 83 studies published between 2005–2025 on family roles in rehabilitation. Evidence shows that when families are actively involved, through psychoeducation, therapy, and peer-led programs, outcomes improve such as symptom reduction, relapse prevention, and functional gains. Caregivers often demonstrate resilience but face significant stress, stigma, and systemic barriers. Cultural norms and policy frameworks strongly influence family engagement; while some regions integrate families into care, others lag. Not all patients desire family involvement, highlighting the need for flexible, person-centered approaches. Key implications include expanding family-inclusive programs, training providers, and addressing confidentiality and resource gaps. A shift toward family-centered psychiatric rehabilitation is evident; however, systematic implementation remains uneven.
Alkhayat et al. (Sat,) studied this question.
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