Family Therapy for Depression

Family therapy can help a family cope with depression.

Family therapy may be one aspect of treatment for some cases of depression. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology in 2003, people suffering from depression report a high level of family dysfunction. Family therapy sessions are generally conducted by a mental health professional such as a social worker, psychiatrist or licensed family therapist.

Depression

There are different types of depression, including major depression, dysthymic disorder, psychotic depression, postpartum depression, and seasonal affective disorder. Symptoms of depression vary among individuals and the types of depression. In general, symptoms of depression include prolonged periods of sadness, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, irritability, withdrawal from friends and family, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, changes in appetite, changes in sleeping patterns, and suicidal thoughts and behavior. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the cause of depression is uncertain, and it may be caused by "a combination of genetic, biochemical, environmental and psychological factors."

Family Therapy

Family therapy, which is also known as family systems therapy, is a form of psychotherapy that involves an entire family. During a family therapy session multiple members of a family are present at the same time. Family therapy allows a therapist to examine "interaction patterns" among a family, according to Depression-Guide.com. Family therapy may be structured or more free-form depending upon the needs of a particular family. According to MentalHelp.net, though the depression of one family member may be the reason the whole family comes to therapy, under therapy the depression may be treated as a problem affecting the entire family.

Goals

According to Depression-Guide.com, family therapy is designed to help the person with depression as well as "to improve family functioning." Other goals of family therapy include improving communication, reducing conflict, and reducing the stress of the depressed family member. Through examining the way that a family interacts a therapist may be able to suggest healthier, more productive ways of interacting.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, sometimes known as manic depression, is a chronic mental disorder. People with bipolar disorder experience alternating manic and depressive episodes. According to research published in 2008 in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry, "family-focused treatment" in combination with medication may help treat depressive symptoms in teenagers with bipolar disorder. The research suggests that family therapy may help teens recover more quickly from a depressive episode.

Young People

According to RevolutionHealth.com, depression among young people may be caused or exacerbated by family conflict. In such cases, family therapy can help the family adapt new ways of communicating and dealing with depression. RevolutionHealth.com points out that family therapy alone "has not been proven effective for treatment of depression," though it may be one aspect of treatment that includes medication and possibly another type of individual counseling, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Considerations

According to MentalHelp.net, family therapy is "most useful" if a person's depression is damaging their family relationships and/or the depression is being caused by a dysfunctional family situation. According to Depression-Guide.com, because family therapy depends on a number of people committing to the therapy, "drop-out rates are high."

References

• Journal of Clinical Psychology. "Family therapy and chronic depression." Keitner GI, et al. 2003
• Archives of General Psychiatry. "Family-Focused Treatment for Adolescents With Bipolar Disorder." David J. Miklowitz, PhD, et al. 2008
• Family Therapy - Experiential Family Therapy
• Other Forms of Psychotherapy for Major Depression - Group, Family and Couples Therapy
• Revolution Health: Family Therapy and Depression in Children and Teens