Developments in family treatment of schizophrenia.

For the treatment of families of schizophrenics the following issues are discussed: (1) Is there any evidence that families cause schizophrenia? (2) Is it useful to consider the family as a system? (3) What is the aim of family therapy? (4) Does family therapy work for any kind of family? (5) Does family therapy work for families of schizophrenics? The conclusion is reached that systems theory can be applied successfully to some families when the patient suffers from certain conditions.