The Systemic Approach to the Therapy of Schizophrenia

Abstract

This chapter discusses the development of our systemic approach to therapy and its application with families having a schizophrenic member. From 1971 to 1975 the original Milan team (Selvini, Boscolo, Cecchin, and Prata), who had originally worked with a psychoanalytic model, adopted the so-called Palo Alto method, a systemic model influenced by Bateson’s (1972) ideas. The working procedure is as follows. A two way mirror divides the therapy room from the observation room. Sessions are usually videotaped. The team meets before each session to formulate a working hypothesis on the basis of previous information. The therapist then initiates the session while the rest of the team observes from behind the mirror. The therapist and the team meet briefly, usually once or twice, and share their views. At the end of the session, therapist and team formulate a hypothesis and an intervention, which could be a reframing, a task, or a ritual. The final intervention is conducted by the therapist with the family. At the end of the 1970s families were seen in the context of training, with groups of about 15 students and two teachers usually composing the observing team.