ysically intrusive, and may be more acceptable to the patient. The disadvantages are that these therapies are not very effective without medication, can make the patient worse if they are too demanding, are time consuming, and therapists often need extra training to carry them out (Kuipers, 1996).With these factors in mind, we can see that non-drug treatments for schizophrenia should be utilized whenever possible, though not as a replacement for medication.In the past, families were seen as a problem or annoyance to be dealt with when dealing with schizophrenic patients. However, with the advent of interventions, relatives are now seen as a resource and their needs are being acknowledged.One thing that relatives often require is information about schizophrenia and whatever medication(s) are being administered. However, one must be careful that the information provided is not misunderstood. This is especially likely to happen with very critical relatives as they have a tendency to blame the patient for problem behavior and negative symptoms rather than realizing that the problem is the disorder. Since it is difficult to effectively transmit the necessary information, this process often takes more than one session.Another necessary part of in interventions with high EE families is helping them communicate and solve problems better. High EE families often poor communication and tend to avoid trying solutions to problems, tending to avoid them or become angry instead.Families of patients with schizophrenia have a strong range of emotional responses. These range from shock, denial, guilt, and grief to fear, worry, anger, and a loss of confidence (Kuipers, 1996). It is very important to allow these emotions to be aired and dealt with rather than leaving them to gnaw away at the relatives’ psyches.A study of high EE families showed that after successful interventions, relapse rates went from fifty percent to ten percent for the first nin...
