Multifamilientherapie mit anorektischen Kindern und Jugendlichen im tagesklinischen Rahmen

[Parent-Child Treatment in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Models and Clinical Implementation Using the Example of a Modular Parent-Child Ward]

The joint treatment of mentally ill children and their parents represents a special treatment concept in child and adolescent psychiatry. A study conducted by the Working Group (BAG) "Early Childhood" shows the current situation of care and possible models of child and adolescent psychiatric parent-child treatment in Germany. Using the parent-child ward of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department in Magdeburg as an example, the combined treatment of mentally ill children and their parents is presented. The treatment approach consists of a three-week diagnostic phase, after which families are discharged again to their home environment followed by a five-week therapy block, for which the families have to be readmitted to the ward. With a focus on the parent-child relationship, the treatment concept - in contrast to regular child psychiatric treatments - is dynamically adapted to the quality of the parent-child interaction and not primarily related to the disorder of the children. First studies indicate the effectiveness of the special treatment setting and illustrate the efficiency of a joint treatment of parents and child, which, however, is associated with increased economic costs. Based on these results, the chances and limitations of parent-child wards are discussed and conclusions for parent-child treatment are drawn.

Interfamily Therapy, a multifamily therapy model settled in infant-juvenile mental health services of Havana (Cuba): A qualitative study from participants' perspectives

Interfamily therapy (IFT) is a specific model for multifamily therapy (MFT) of recent expansion in Latin American and European countries. In IFT a multifamily group becomes a community of learning where professionals and family members establish collaborative relationships and participate in dialogues. This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach to explore the participants' perspective of 14 members and ex-members of two IFT groups conducted in Infant-Juvenile Mental Health Centers in Havana (Cuba). In this study IFT was well accepted and effective, and it was perceived as beneficial due to its positive influence for participants, with benefits on a personal, family and social level. In addition, participants articulated a series of therapeutic elements of IFT that were essential to promote these benefits. In conclusion, IFT seems to be a useful therapeutic model in the treatment of children, adolescents and their families in a Cuban psychiatric setting.