Working with Families of Psychiatric Inpatients: A Guide for Clinicians

by Alison M. Heru MD, Laura M. Drury MSW LICSW

Overview

Working with the families of inpatients is one of the most important—and most challenging—aspects of practicing clinical psychiatry. Clinicians are responsible not only for the well-being of their patients but also for the education and guidance of the patient’s family. In this book, Alison M. Heru and Laura M. Drury offer a step-by-step guide to developing the skills needed to work successfully with patients’ families.

Research data, outlined in the opening chapters, demonstrate just how essential families and evidence-based family treatment are to effective patient care. Succeeding chapters use clinical case studies to illustrate the skills necessary for the assessment and treatment of the family. Psychiatric residents will enhance their knowledge of the family as a part of the patient’s social context and learn how to conduct a family meeting, common mistakes to avoid, and when to refer the family for other assistance. The authors also describe specific strategies for intervening with difficult families and for overcoming some of the fears and anxieties common among residents when they interact with patients’ families.

The authors provide valuable insights into the perspectives of families and patients and offer practical suggestions for risk management after the patient is discharged from inpatient care.

Keyed to the requirements articulated by the American College of Graduate Medical Education, this handbook is a tool no psychiatric resident can do without.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801885761
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	04/15/2007
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.66(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Alison M. Heru, M.D., is an associate professor (clinical) in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University Medical School and the director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Butler Hospital.

Table of Contents

Preface     vii
Abbreviations     xi
Key Concepts
What It Takes to Work with Patients' Families     3
The Biopsychosocial Case Formulation and Treatment Plan     15
Research on Families and Family Treatments
Research on Families     27
Family Treatments     43
Mastering Skills
Abbreviated Assessment of the Family     63
Managing a Family Meeting     89
Other Inpatient Interventions: Multifamily Psychoeducational Groups and Genograms     106
Challenges in Working with Families
The Resident's Perspective: Attitudes and Fears     117
The Family's Perspective: Sources of Anxiety     127
The Larger System
Risk Management and the Family   Patricia R. Recupero, J.D., M.D.     139
Family-Based Services after Hospitalization     149
GAP Checklist for Evaluating Competency in Family-Interview Skills     155
References     157
Index     173

Editorial Reviews

Although this book is primarily written as a training manual for residents it is helpful in the work of most psychiatrists and timely in addressing the needs of families in present mental health services in the UK.

Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry - Paul Foster

The book is well-written, easy to read and filled with useful clinical examples. It is brief, but to the point. I would recommend it to anybody who wants to learn how to work with families of her/his patients. I also hope that this volume could be used in their teaching.

Annals of Clinical Psychiatry

Although this book is primarily written as a training manual for residents it is helpful in the work of most psychiatrists and timely in addressing the needs of families in present mental health services in the UK.
—Paul Foster, Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry

The book is well-written, easy to read and filled with useful clinical examples. It is brief, but to the point. I would recommend it to anybody who wants to learn how to work with families of her/his patients. I also hope that this volume could be used in their teaching.
—Annals of Clinical Psychiatry

It is excellent to read a book which addresses the important issue of providing family interventions within in-patient settings.
—Chris Mansell, British Journal of Psychiatry

From the Publisher

It is excellent to read a book which addresses the important issue of providing family interventions within in-patient settings.

British Journal of Psychiatry - Chris Mansell