The Social and Psychological Problems Facing Families of Schizophrenic Patients and a Proposed Framework from a Family Therapy Perspective to Address Them: An Applied Study in the Governorate of Jerusalem

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the social and psychological problems faced by families of schizophrenic patients and to propose a family therapy-based perspective for addressing them: A field study applied in the Jerusalem Governorate. To achieve the study’s objectives, the researcher employed a descriptive-analytical approach, which was appropriate for the nature of the study. The study population consisted of families of schizophrenic patients in the Jerusalem Governorate, totaling 75 families with individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to the statistics of treatment centers in the region for 2024. The researcher used a comprehensive survey method due to the small size of the study population. The study tool, a "questionnaire," distributed to the study population. The key findings of the study were that the reality of the social problems faced by the families of schizophrenic patients in the Jerusalem Governorate was high, with a relative weight of 69.56%. The results also revealed that the psychological problems experienced by the families were high, with a relative weight of 69.54%. Based on these results, the study recommended enhancing social support through providing counseling sessions for families of schizophrenic patients to deal with social and psychological problems. It also recommended offering regular group and individual social and psychological therapy sessions for these families to strengthen their social and psychological stability. Additionally, the study suggested training staff at schizophrenia treatment centers through specialized training programs to enhance their skills and abilities in providing social and psychological support to the families of schizophrenic patients and equipping them with effective therapeutic plans for implementation within the family, as well as helping them develop their social skills.