Family Processes and Becoming a Mental Patient

Abstract

Both before and after hospitalization a type of accomodative pattern usually evolves between a disturbed person and his family and ultimately permits or forces him to remain in the community in spite of severe difficulties. It is the disruption of this pattern which eventually brings a disturbed person to psychiatric attention. Two patterns of accommodation between schizophrenic patients and their families are identified, the disruption of these patterns are documented, and the consequences of these patterns of the nature of the pathway to the mental hospital are examined.