Marriage andfamily therapy outcome research has repeatedly supported the use offamily-contextual interventionsfor a variety ofpresenting problems, including those traditionally treated with intrapsychic individualpsychotherapy. The outcome results indicate success over a broad scope ofpracticefor marriage andfamily therapy, especially when used in collaboration with other treatment modalities. A review of marriage and family outcome studies from the past 10 years is discussed. Implications for thefield of marriage and family therapy are presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychiatric Association
. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
2.
Anderson, H.
(1994). Rethinking family therapy: A delicate balance. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 20, 145-149.
3.
Azrin, N. H.
, Donohue, B., Basalel, V. A., Kogan, E. S., & Acierno, R. (1994). Youth drug abuse treatment: A controlled outcome study. Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, 3, 1-16.
4.
Bateson, G.
, Jackson, D. D., & Haley, J. (1956). Toward a theory of schizophrenia. Behavioral Science, 1, 251-264.
5.
Beach, S.R.H.
, & Nelson, G. M. (1990). Pursuing research on major psychopathology from a contextual perspective: The example of depression and marital discord. In G. Brody & I. E. Sigel (Eds.), Family research (Vol. 2, pp. 227-260). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
6.
Beach, S.R.H.
, & O'Leary, K. D. (1992). Treating depression in the context of marital discord: Outcome and predictors of response for marital therapy versus cognitive therapy. Behavior Therapy, 23, 507-528.
7.
Blechman, E. A.
(1990). The knowledge base of family therapy [Review of the changing family life cycle: A framework forfamily therapy]. Contemporary Psychology, 35, 812-812.
8.
Broderick, C. B.
, & Schrader, S. S. (1981). The history of professional marriage and family therapy. In A. S. Gunnan & D. P. Kniskem (Eds.), Handbook offamily therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
9.
Chamberlain, P.
, & Rosicky, J. G. (1995). The effectiveness of family therapy in the treatment of adolescents with conduct disorders and delinquency. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 441-459.
10.
Clarkin, J. F.
, Glick, I. D., Hass, G. L., Spemcer, J. H., Lewis, A. B., Peyser, J., Demane, N., Good-Ellis, M., Harris, E., & Lestelle, V. (1990) A randomized clinical trial of inpatient family intervention, V: Results for affective disorders. Journal of Affective Disorders, 18, 17028-17028.
11.
Crits-Cristoph, P.
, & Mintz, J. (1991). Implications for therapist effects for the design and analysis of comparative studies of psychotherapies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 20-26.
12.
Davidson, M.
(1983). Uncommon sense. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher.
13.
Edwards, M. E.
, & Steinglass, P. (1995). Family therapy treatment outcomes for alcoholism. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 475-510.
14.
Estrada, A. U.
, & Pinsof, W. M. (1995). The effectiveness of family therapies for selected behavioral disorders of childhood. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 403-440.
15.
Fischmann-Havstad, L.
, & Marston, A. R. (1984). Weight loss maintenance as an aspect of family emotion and process. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 23, 265-271.
16.
Foley, S. H.
, Rounsaville, B. J., Weissman, M. M., Sholomaskas, D., & Chevron, E. (1989). Individual versus conjoint interpersonal therapy for depressed patients with marital disputes. International Journal of Family Psychiatry, 10, 29-42.
17.
Garfield, S. L.
(1992). Yes I have heard of family psychotherapy-But opinions are no substitute for data. American Psychologist, 37, 99-100.
18.
Garrett, C. J.
(1985). Effects of residential treatment on adjudicated delinquents: A meta-analysis. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 22, 287-308.
19.
Giblin, P.
, & Chan, J. (1995). Constructive perspectives in family therapy. The Family Journal, 3, 325-330.
20.
Gitlin, M. J.
(1990). The psychotherapist's guide to psychopharmacology. New York: Free Press.
21.
Goldstein, M. J.
, & Miklowitz, D. J. (1995). The effectiveness of psychoeducational family therapy in the treatment of schizophrenic disorders. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 301-376.
22.
Hahlweg, K.
, & Markman, H. J. (1988). Effectiveness of behavioral marital therapy: Empirical status of behavioral techniques in preventing and alleviating marital distress. Journal of Counseling and Counseling Psychology, 56, 440-447.
23.
Hazelrigg, M. D.
, Cooper, H. M., & Borduin, C. M. (1987). Evaluating the effectiveness of family therapies: An integrative review and analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 101, 428-442.
24.
Hooley, J. M.
, Orley, J., & Teasdale, J. D. (1986). Levels of expressed emotion and relapse in depressed patients. British Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 642-647.
25.
Kleist, D. M.
, & Gompertz, K. (1997). Current use of qualitative research methodology in couples and family counseling. The Family Journal, 5, 137-143.
26.
Koestler, A.
(1968). The ghost in the machine. New York: Macmillan.
27.
Lambert, M. J.
(1989). The individual therapist's contribution to psychotherapy process and outcome (Special issue: Psychotherapy Process Research). Clinical Psychology Review, 9, 469-485.
28.
Liddle, H. A.
(1991). Empirical values and the culture of family therapy. Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy, 17, 327-348.
29.
Liddle, H. A.
, & Dakof, G. A. (1995). Efficacy of family therapy for drug abuse: Promising but not definitive. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 511-544.
30.
Markman, H. J.
(1990). Review of handbook of family therapy training and supervision. Contemporary Psychology, 35, 821-821.
31.
Miklowitz, D. J.
, Goldstein, M. J., Nuechterlein, K. H., Snyder, K. S., & Mintz, J. (1988). Family factors and the course of bipolar affective disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 45, 225-231.
32.
O'Leary, K. D.
, Risso, L. P., & Beach, S.R.H. (1990). Attributions about marital discord/depression link and therapy outcome. Behavior Therapy, 21, 413-422.
33.
Onken, L S.
, Blaine, J. D., & Boren, J. J. (1993). Behavioral treatments for drug abuse and dependence: Progress, potential, and promise. In S. L. Onken, J. D. Blaine, & J. J. Boren (Eds.), Behavioral treatmentsfor drug abuse and dependence (pp. 1-4) (NIDA Research Monograph 137). Rockville, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse.
34.
Pinsof, W. M.
(1981). Family therapy process research. In A. Gurman & D. Kniskern (Eds.), Handbook offamily therapy (pp. 699-741). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
35.
Pinsof, W. M.
, & Wynne, L. C. (1995). The efficacy of marital and family therapy: An empirical overview, conclusions, and recommendations. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 585-613.
36.
Prince, S. E.
, & Jacobson, N. S. (1995). A review and evaluation of marital and family therapies for affective disorders. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 377-401.
37.
Prinz, R. J.
, & Miller, G. E. (1994). Family-based treatment for childhood antisocial behavior: Experimental influences on dropout and engagement. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 645-650.
38.
Schuham, A. I.
(1967). The double-bind hypothesis a decade later. Psychological Bulletin, 68, 409-416.
39.
Shadish, W. R.
, Montgomery, L. M., Wilson, P., Wilson, M. R., Bright, I., & Okwumabua, T. (1993). The effects of family and marital psychotherapies: A meta-analysis. Journal of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, 61, 942-1002.
40.
Shadish, W. R.
, Ragsdale, K., Glaser, R. R., & Montgomery, L. M. (1995). The efficacy and effectiveness of marital and family therapy: A perspective from meta-analysis. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 345-360.
41.
Shields, C. G.
(1986). Family therapy research and practice: Constructs, measurement, and testing. Journal of marital and family therapy, 12, 379-382.
42.
Shields, C. G.
, Wynne, L. C., McDaniel, S. H., & Gawinski, B. A. (1994). The marginalization of family therapy: A historical and continuing problem. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 20, 117-138.
43.
Sprenkle, D. H.
, & Bishoff, R. J. (1995). Research in family therapy: Trends, issues, and recommendations. In M. P. Nichols & R. C. Schwartz (Eds.), Family therapy, concepts and methods (pp. 542-580). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
44.
Szapoczink, J.
, Perez-Vidal, A., Brickman, A. L., Foote, F. H., Santisteban, D., Hervis, O., & Kurtines, W. M. (1988). Engaging adolescent drug abusers and their families in treatment: A strategic structural systems approach. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56,552-557.
45.
Vaughn, C. E.
, & Leff, J. P. (1976). The influence of family and social factors on the course of psychiatric illness: A comparison of schizophrenic and depressed neurotic patients. British Journal ofPsychiatry, 128, 125-137.
46.
Weisz, J. R.
, Weiss, B., & Donenberg, G. R. (1992). The lab versus the clinic: Effects of child and adolescent psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 47, 1578-1585.
