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This article reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of family interventions in the prevention and treatment of physical disorders. Pathways by which families influence physical health and a typology of family interventions are described. Family intervention studies, particularly randomized clinical trials, are reviewed in four clinical areas: family caregiving of elders, childhood chronic illness, spouse involvement in chronic adult illnesses, and health promotion/disease prevention. Implications for family clinicians and recommendations for future research are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a large body of research demonstrates that the family has a powerful influence on physical health, the evidence for the effectiveness of family interventions in physical illness is less conclusive. Family therapy and other family interventions appear to be most effective in chronic childhood illnesses such as asthma and diabetes. Family interventions have also been shown to be effective in the management of some cardiovascular and neurologic disorders and for the treatment of obesity. Family therapy appears to be more effective than individual therapy for some groups of patients with anorexia nervosa. This research supports the increasingly important role of medical family therapy in the new health care system. Recommendations for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the development, reliability, and validity of a self-report scale to assess from the recipient's perspective two factors derived from Expressed Emotion (EE) theory. The Family Emotional Involvement and Criticism Scale (FEICS) has two subscales: Perceived Criticism (PC) and intensity of Emotional Involvement (EI). These two factors are analogous to Critical Comments and Emotional Overinvolvement, the two main factors of EE that are assessed through the Camberwell Family Interview, the original direct observation measure of EE. FEICS was completed by 83 respondents who were a random sample of patients over 40 years of age receiving care at a Family Medicine Center. Cronbach's alpha was .82 for the PC subscale and .74 for the EI subscale. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that each item loaded on its proposed factor (all at ≥ .50) and not with the other factor (all at ≤ .15). The subscales exhibited expected correlations and partial correlations with FACES III subscales, ISEL subscales, the SCL-90 depression and anxiety subscales, and demographic variables. We conclude that the FEICS is a reliable instrument with preliminary evidence of its construct and criterion validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]