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Abstract: This article provides an updated overview of the empirical literature regarding Multiple Family Therapy's (MFT) applications to non‐psychiatric conditions and problems. Although the evidence is not as strong for these disorders as for psychiatric disorders, the benefits of MFT approaches are apparent in the following areas: family management of several severe chronic medical illnesses; prevention of educational failure and exclusion; and treatment of marital distress. MFT research in non‐psychiatric settings has been faced with unique challenges that have mitigated the quality and quantity of outcome and process research produced over the past decade. Future research efforts should focus on: (1) stronger commitment to the evaluation of ongoing MFT programmes; (2) identification and manualization of major MFT programmes; (3) more Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of MFT programmes in community settings; and (4) higher priority for research on MFT's change processes and patterns of interaction. Practitioner points: The treatment of chronic physical diseases is optimized by involving family members, and MFT is a valuable way of doing so: workshops delivered in brief formats are most feasible MFT should be considered for non‐psychiatric problems with the risk of isolation and stigmatization. The presence of other families sharing the same challenges is very useful MFT practitioners should attempt to operationalize their MFT model and include an evaluation component in their therapeutic implementation as routine practice [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article provides an updated and comprehensive overview of the empirical literature regarding Multiple Family Therapy (MFT)'s applications to major psychiatric disorders. It shows that MFT's strongest evidence base is for schizophrenia and chronic psychoses, making its psychoeducational model one of the best available practices for these disorders. There is also a growing body of evidence regarding the usefulness of MFT for mood disorders (particularly in children), eating disorders and alcohol‐substance abuse, but more controlled research is needed for these conditions. Other disorders such as anxiety disorders, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have been studied in a more anecdotal fashion and require more rigorous investigations. Future research efforts should focus on: (1) the specific advantage of MFT over other active treatment modalities, (2) the comparative efficacy of various MFT models for a given population, and (3) MFT's change processes. Practitioner points: McFarlane's psychoeducational MFT model is considered best practice for schizophrenia and other psychoses (and possibly mood disorders), facilitated by its manual‐based approach The Maudsley model is a valuable treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa. Family therapists who are less ED‐focused in their interventions can also use more generic MFT models MFT practitioners should attempt to operationalize their MFT model and include an evaluation component in their therapeutic implementation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence, under its remit to establish evidence-based treatments for clinical conditions, has recommended behaviourally based couples treatment for depression. A project, the Exeter Model, to establish a method for evaluating systemic work defined within the spirit of these guidelines is reported upon. A heuristic division of systemic work relevant to working with depression into behavioural strategies and empathic strategies is described. Finally, a clinical case outlining the Exeter Model is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]