Relational problems and psychiatric symptoms in couple therapy

Summary, in English

Lundblad A-M, Hansson K. Relational problems and psychiatric symptoms in couple therapyInt J Soc Welfare 2005: 14: 256 -264 c Blackwell Publishing, 2005.This article describes couples attending family counselling in Sweden. The study group is compared with clinical groups and non-clinical groups. Self-rating instruments were com-pleted by 317 women and 312 men to evaluate the following: marital satisfaction (DAS), expressed emotion (QAFM), family climate (FC), psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90) and sense of coherence (SOC). This group had several problems: marital relationships, disrupted family functioning, dyadic interactions characterised by criticism and open arguments, and multiple psychological symptoms. The women were espe-cially discontent in the relationship, and they exhibited higher symptom strain and lower sense of coherence than the men did. Compared with non-clinical populations, this group was severely distressed and was similar to in-patient families in child psychiatric clinics. The low sense of coherence of the individuals in the group under study means that their sense of having a meaningful life and their ability to comprehend and manage problems were severely compromised. Adequate and comprehensive treatment within the framework of social pro-grammes should be made available to these couples and others in a similar situation.

• Author: Ann-Marie Lundblad; Kjell Hansson
• Department/s: School of Social Work
• Publishing year: 2005
• Language: English
• Pages: 256-264
• Publication/Series: International Journal of Social Welfare
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 4
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1369-6866.2005.00368.x
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Topic: Social Work
• Keywords: expressed emotion; psychiatric symptoms; distress; marital satisfaction; couple therapy
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1369-6866