Research has consistently shown schizophrenics to perform significantly poorer than normal controls on commonly used measures of neuropsychological functioning. Research on the neuropsychological functioning of first-degree relatives of schizophrenics who do not themselves have schizophrenia is comparatively sparse but suggests the likelihood of deficits in this group as well. A battery of standard neuropsychological tests was administered to three groups: first-degree relatives of schizophrenics who do not themselves have schizophrenia (FDR-SCZ), first-degree relatives of persons with major depression and bipolar disorder (FDR-MOOD), and normal controls (NC). The FDRSCZ group was not found to demonstrate significantly impaired performance relative to the other two groups on any of the hypothesized or exploratory analyses. These implications of these findings are discussed with reference to previous studies and future research.

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Postmodernistic thinking supports the existence of various realities rather than the existence of an universally accepted objective truth. Knowledge is seen as an aspect of a constructed truth which may change over time, context, therapist and client and is therefore relative. An ethical approach, according to which the observer takes responsibility for his participation in what he observes, replaces the search for "the cause" or "the truth" constructionism and ecosystemic thinking are offered as ways of creating a postmodernistic interpretive framework. In using these frameworks or ways of thinking, the observer's participation in what he observes, as well as the existence of multiple realities and the influence of context, become recognized. The therapist that functions according to a postmodernistic perspective, gives up the idea that therapy is only about diagnosing an objective static condition. The therapists acknowledges that the observed condition always exists within the interaction between people. The therapist assumes a co-operative, respecting, therapeutic stance. The therapist sees himself as a catalyst rather than an expert who forces the therapy in a theoretically chosen direction. The therapist refrains from prescribing solutions, relying rather on the client himself to find new options and realities. Although this thesis focused primarily on a critique of Selvini Palazzoli's theoretical approach, it also comments on the pragmatic application of theories in general. A postmodernistic framework is offered as a broader more functional framework under which a variety of theories can be applied. within this framework already existing theories can be reconsidered and differently applied without rejecting their praqmatic value. A systemic perception of changing ideas replaces a systemic perception of things or objects. A debate about which school of theory is the most effective in dealing with a specific client, is replaced by an ethical approach according to which the observer takes responsibility for his choice of lenses in making distinctions and decisions.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Families are now often the primary caretakers of severely psychiatrically disabled relatives, also referred to as the chronically mentally ill (CMI). As a result, families report experiencing stressors such as a lack of psychosocial resources, disturbance in family routine, and increased financial problems--in addition to feelings of guilt and embarrassment. Research has indicated that the families need education, support, and training in coping skills. La Frontera Center, Inc. (LFC), a comprehensive community mental health agency in Tucson, Arizona, provided both education and support to families of the severely psychiatrically disabled. The education essentially involved providing families with knowledge regarding schizophrenia; support was available through a task-oriented self-help group. The purpose of the present research was to develop a complementary coping skills training program, and investigate its effectiveness. The research was conducted through two separate studies. The first study compared subjects who received the skills training, and education, with subjects who received education only. The second study utilized members from the LFC support/advocacy group who had previously attended the education class. One-half of these subjects received the skills training, while continuing involvement with the support group, and were compared to subjects who were involved with support only. In each study, subjects were randomly assigned to either the treatment or comparison group. Both designs involved repeated measures, with data analyzed according to an analysis of covariance statistical procedure. Though the hypotheses were not supported statistically in the first study, a number of results were statistically significant in the second study, and did support the hypotheses, including treatment subjects experiencing decreased anxiety, decreased depression, decreased conflict within the family, and increased social functioning and use of community resources.

Thesis (MA. (Psychology)) -- University of the North, 2002. / The aim of the study was to assess as to whether psycho education can lead to compliance,and to strengthen the families to be long-term caregivers in Mankweng hospital (psychiatric clinic) of the Limpopo Province. It is included two phases(l) baseline and (2) follow-up. The baseline included of 82 (50 males and 32 females) participants with schizo phrenia. Their (patients) ages ranged from 17 years to 62 years with the mean age of 37.5 (SD=l 0.2). So, forty-one (41) patients were the experimental group who interviewed and also received intervention , and the remaining forty-one(41) were only interviewed at the baseline. After nine moths , follow-up was done, and it included fifty-seven (36 males and 21 females) participants who were followed up at their homes. Thirty-one (31) were the experimental group and twenty-six (26) were the control group. Their ages ranged from 20 years to 62 years with the mean age 39.3 (SD= l2.6). At follow-up , the questionnaire was going along with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for both groups. The results showed that most of the patients were compliant to their medications however ,with no significant differences because of the small sample that represented the population . For instance , not all patients were available at the follow-up session and there were other factors that could harm the effectiveness of research. The research concludes that psycho-education in South Africa can promise to improve health for the individuals only if the psychiatrists continue to educate patients to be effective on their treatment; and it can provide a concrete approach to the development of social and coping skills of the patients and their families.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

Thesis (M. A. (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The study sought to explore and describe the lived experiences of caregivers involved in support groups whilst caring for a family member diagnosed schizophrenia in Johannesburg South, Gauteng province. A qualitative study was conducted among primary caregivers of family members diagnosed with schizophrenia and involved in support groups. Members were selected using purposive sampling and ten participants were interviewed (eight parents and two siblings of diagnosed family members). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Common themes regarding the experience of caring for a family member diagnosed with schizophrenia were clearly delineated. Findings of the study revealed that the participants experienced psychosocial, emotional, and economic challenges in caring for their relatives diagnosed with schizophrenia. The findings point to problems such as psychological distress, extensive worry, subjective burden and significance of support in caring for ill family members. Findings also highlight challenges such as financial constraints and cultural factors which negatively impact the quality of caregiving for the participants’ ill relatives. The study further revealed the coping mechanisms that caregivers adopt to cope with the difficulties of caring for their schizophrenic family members. Religion and support groups were some of mechanisms a majority of participants found to be helpful for them in coping. The present study found that family members involved in the group program demonstrated improved family communication, greater confidence in their ability to help their loved ones, reduced burden and improved subjective quality of life.