Not all families of patients with depression need family therapy, but all can benefit from the opportunity of meeting together with a mental health professional (Table 2). At the minimum, useful information can be exchanged, potential difficulties identified, and plans can be made for addressing agreed-upon problems. Families can be encouraged to become knowledgeable about the illness, to learn about local mental health laws, to recognize prodromal and residual symptoms, to establish an ongoing collaborative relationship with health care providers, to support treatment compliance, to reach out for help early in the onset of an episode, and to become familiar with local support groups.
A comprehensive, biopsychosocial approach, which combines a judicious use of pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and family intervention, may not only provide a good likelihood of positive response to acute and maintenance treatment of depression, but can also help patients and families cope with those depressive symptoms that may persist in spite of optimal treatment.
Dr. Keitner is professor of psychiatry at Brown University and director of adult psychiatry and the Mood Disorders Program at Rhode Island Hospital.
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