Introduction
“Medical family therapy” considers how a patient’s loved ones affect their health and well-being. It recognizes that family relationships may affect mental and physical health and addresses the underlying causes. Due to studies suggesting family therapy may help various mental health issues, this practice has gained popularity, especially in mental health. This study supports using this technique. This has shifted the industry focus to this technique. Studies show that medical family therapy may help persons with anxiety, depression, bipolar illness, schizophrenia, and drug abuse. Mental health specialists work with the patient’s family to identify and treat underlying issues that may be causing mental health issues.
Family-centred approach. Medical family therapy aims to improve the patient’s physical, emotional, and familial health. Medical family therapists treat patients and their families. Family therapy has successfully treated mental health illnesses in Western countries for decades. Studies demonstrate this therapy is useful. Medical family therapy is becoming increasingly common in Asian countries like Singapore and China as mental health care becomes a priority (Hatta Santoso Ong et al., 2021; Aalberg, 2023). Medical family therapy may cure mental health issues and improve family functioning by addressing family issues that cause them.
Medical family therapy may assist in addressing Singapore’s growing mental health crisis. Medical family therapy has been studied in Singapore for treating depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Various research examined whether medical family therapy treats various disorders. Medical family therapy improved depression patients’ mental health in a Singapore research. The National University of Singapore conducted the research. Another study found that medical family therapy reduced anxiety in anxiety disorder patients. Medical family therapy is becoming a promising treatment for mental health issues. This therapy addresses family difficulties head-on.
This approach acknowledges the significance of family and encourages family members to engage with healthcare professionals to enhance their loved one’s health and well-being. Western nations have extensively researched medical family therapy’s efficacy. This therapeutic method is gaining popularity in Asian countries like Singapore. Medical family therapy uses philosophical and theoretical frameworks to guide its therapeutic practice. This idea includes the agency and communion hypothesis. It stresses the need to balance autonomy and connectedness in the family. This paradigm states that people must balance autonomy and connection to form good relationships.
The agency and communion hypothesis, also known as “the communion hypothesis,” states that people should be able to make independent decisions and act on their behalf (“agency”) while also being connected to others and participating in the pursuit of common goals and values (“community”). Therapists that follow this paradigm help families balance the two stresses, which allows for true and healthy interactions. Medical family therapy may incorporate the biopsychosocial and spiritual (BPSS) paradigm. This approach acknowledges that biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects may affect health. This method considers these criteria. The BPSS model was created to measure patient health comprehensively. This model considers these components of an individual’s health and well-being.
BPSS-based family therapists examine patients’ biological wellness. This includes recording physical ailments and medicines that may affect mental health. They also evaluate psychological factors, including emotional control and cognitive function. They also include social and spiritual aspects, including family and community support and personal values and beliefs. Family therapists may better comprehend their patients’ medical issues and customize therapy holistically. The BPSS technique recognizes that every patient is unique and that a complete evaluation of the patient’s health must precede any therapy.
The agency, communion, and BPSS models govern medical family therapy. Conceptual and theoretical basis are these frameworks. These frameworks highlight the necessity of holistically examining a patient’s health and balancing autonomy and connectedness in family relationships. Family therapists may better treat mental health issues and improve family health by using the numerous theoretical frameworks accessible to them. In recent years, medical family therapy has advanced Medicine, particularly mental health. Technology enabled these breakthroughs. Western research has shown medical family therapy to help teenage anorexia nervosa (Smith & Cook-Cottone, 2011).
Godart (2012), in a randomized control experiment, found that additive family therapy helps teenagers with anorexia nervosa when combined with standard treatment. Psychological Medicine reported the study results. (Diamond et al. 2016; Ibrahim et al. 2017; Feder & Diamond 2015) Medical family therapy may enhance attachment-based family therapy for depressed and suicidal teenagers. Diamond, Ibrahim, and Feder (2015) discovered this. According to Hatta Santoso Ong and colleagues 2021, Asian primary care professionals have realized the need to incorporate patients’ families in mental illness treatment. A comprehensive study and meta-analysis by Aalberg (2023) found that family counselling helps depressed and suicidal youths in Singapore.
A 2020 research by Noa Tsvieli and her colleagues found that attachment-based family therapy for depressed and suicidal youth benefitted from therapist treatments related to constructive emotional processing. These studies suggest that medical family therapy may cure anorexia nervosa, sadness, and suicidal ideation. Family therapy may be an effective and thorough patient treatment that addresses underlying difficulties and improves family functioning. This treatment improves family relationships. Family therapy is predicted to remain essential in Western and Asian mental health.
Main Analysis
Medical family therapy (MFT) has become more popular for treating mental disorders. This focus has garnered recognition for the method. It emphasizes the importance of families in mental health and addresses family issues that may cause mental health issues. This prevents mental illness. This strategy may greatly assist those with long-term medical ailments or mental health issues that affect their physical health. This literature study will focus on MFT’s recent contributions to Medicine, notably in Western, Asian, and Singaporean countries. The evaluation will use peer-reviewed studies from the last five years. These articles will cover current trends, difficulties, and solutions.
MFT is a beneficial mental health treatment in Western nations, including the US, Canada, and the UK. The US, UK, and Canada are examples. MFT reduces depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, improving patient outcomes, according to various studies. MFT may also enhance family functioning and communication, which may help patients and reduce caregiver stress. Asia also recognizes MFT as an essential mental health therapy. They’re Asian. According to Asian studies, MFT may relieve anxiety and sadness. Cultural considerations may affect MFT implementation and efficacy in certain nations. In many Asian cultures, seeking mental health therapy is seen as a sign of weakness, making MFT treatments difficult to get. Other civilizations may also do this.
Singapore’s MFT sector has made several achievements recently. Improvements are important in this growing industry. According to the Singapore Association for Mental Health, MFT practitioners need greater training and education. Several studies in Singapore have shown that MFT improves patient outcomes, particularly anxiety and depression. MFT’s efficacy in varied populations needs additional investigation. These persons should have various medical issues and ethnic backgrounds. MFT has greatly impacted Medicine, especially mental health treatment, in recent years. These contributions are widespread. This method emphasizes the family’s involvement in mental health and addresses familial issues that may be the cause. The inability to interact with family may cause mental health issues.
Due to its effectiveness, MFT is gaining popularity in Western and Asian countries, including Singapore. However, MFT needs more research and training to be effective across various demographics. Medical family therapy (MFT) has contributed to mental health care in Western nations. Attachment-based family therapy (ABFT) improves emotional regulation and family interactions in adolescents with unresolved anger. Researchers were Diamond et al. (2016). The Applied Behavioral Analysis for Families and Couples (ABFT) uses evidence-based interventions to enhance family functioning and minimize disputes.
Feder and Diamond (2015) found that favourable ABFT outcomes for suicidal and depressed adolescents predicted parent-therapist alliance and attachment-promoting behaviour. These results appeared in Attachment and Behavior Therapy. The therapist’s interaction with the parents and ability to develop familial attachment is crucial. Family therapy also works for teenage anorexia nervosa. Family therapy improves patient outcomes, Smith and Cook-Cottone (2011) report. Parental involvement in treatment helped achieve this aim. This emphasizes the importance of patients’ relatives in mental health recovery.
ABFT has helped Western mental health practitioners improve patient outcomes, family relationships, and service integration. These results highlight the importance of family dynamics and interactions in treating mental health illnesses, especially adolescent ones. Adolescents’ troubles need this. MFT improves patient outcomes and treats a variety of mental health disorders. This improves mental well-being. MFT will continue to improve mental health and wellness for people and families as mental health treatment grows. Medical family therapy (MFT) has helped treat mental illness in Western nations. Attachment-based family therapy (ABFT) helps teenagers manage their emotions and connect with their families.
Adolescents who cannot control their anger may benefit from this therapy. Authors Diamond et al. (2016) conducted the study. Applied Behavioral Analysis for Families and Couples (ABFT) uses evidence-based therapy to decrease conflict and improve family functioning. This strategy promotes family functioning and reduces conflict. Feder and Diamond (2015) revealed that favourable ABFT outcomes for suicidal and depressed adolescents predicted parent-therapist connection and attachment-promoting behaviour. Both adolescents showed this. The Behaviour and attachment therapy journal reported these results. The therapist must also communicate with parents and form a family bond.
Family therapy may help teenagers with anorexia nervosa. Smith and Cook-Cottone (2011) found that family therapy improves patient outcomes. Involving parents in therapy helped achieve this goal. This shows how important family is in mental illness recovery. The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABFT) has helped Western mental health practitioners improve patient outcomes, family relationships, and service integration. These results highlight the importance of family dynamics and interactions in treating mental health illnesses, especially teenage ones. This is essential for adolescent issues.
MFT treats several mental health issues and improves patient comfort. This improves the population’s mental health. Medical family therapy (MFT) has also advanced mental health care in Singapore. Attachment-based family therapy (ABFT) has been found to address many mental health conditions in recent years. BPD affects 5% of the population. Ibrahim, Russon, and Diamond (2017) found that ABFT for depressed and suicidal teens in Singapore improved patient-provider communication, family relationships, and argument frequency. Some ABFT programs teach emotional management and communication. These interventions promote family functioning to improve patient outcomes.
Tsvieli et al. (2020) found that ABFT for depressed and suicidal teens improved with therapist treatments linked to constructive emotional processing. To get excellent treatment results, therapists must be well-trained and apply effective intervention methods. Multi-Factor Therapy has also helped interprofessional healthcare collaboration in Singapore (Hatta Santoso Ong et al., 2021). Singapore family medicine therapists collaborate with other medical specialists to offer complete, holistic treatment, improving patient outcomes and mental health therapy integration. Based on these results, MFT procedures like ABFT may improve mental health treatment in Singapore.
MFT can treat mental health concerns comprehensively since it considers family relationships and addresses underlying issues. This therapy improves patient and family outcomes. MFT is needed to increase interprofessional healthcare collaboration. This will make it simpler to handle a wide variety of patients and is crucial. MFT will likely continue to improve mental health and wellness for Singaporeans as mental health treatment advances. These data suggest that MFT might enhance mental health treatment integration and outcomes in Singapore. MFT is expected to enhance people’s and families’ mental health as mental health treatment matures.
ABFT and other mental health treatment (MFT) strategies may enhance mental health care in Singapore. Narrative therapy has been used to promote mental health recovery in families (Lim, Ng, & Yeo, 2020). This helps families deal with mental illness. This method emphasizes the importance of family tales and histories in forming a person’s and a family’s identity, which may be used to promote healing and resilience. In Singapore, MFT has been utilized to manage cultural issues, which may affect mental health care. Singapore’s collectivism makes family members feel accountable for each other’s mental well-being (Kang & Teo, 2020). The MFT can address these cultural elements by creating an environment where family members may explore their roles, responsibilities, and individual and collective needs.
MFT has also been utilized to treat the mental health needs of disadvantaged Singaporeans, such as migrant workers and their families (Tan, Chew, & Ho, 2019). MFT treats PTSD, and MFT treats PTSD. MFT-based approaches may assist these populations in getting the social and emotional support they need for mental health. MFT has significant potential to enhance Singapore’s mental health system. MFT offers a comprehensive and holistic approach to mental health therapy that may be tailored to individual requirements and family dynamics. This may be done by considering family dynamics, developing collaboration amongst healthcare workers of various specializations, and assessing cultural issues. Thus, MFT research and implementation in Singapore may improve mental health outcomes and promote mental health treatment integration.
Medical family therapy has advanced Medicine, especially mental health treatment, in recent years. Family involvement in mental health maintenance and underlying problems are addressed in the therapy. We examined the effects of medical family therapy on Western, Asian, and Singaporean Medicine in our literature review. According to the research, medical family therapy improves patient outcomes, family disagreements, and patient-mental health specialist communication. However, medical family therapy needs more research, especially in Singapore. Randomized controlled trials and longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate medical family therapy in different cultures and create culturally relevant interventions. Medical family therapy’s success in treating various mental health conditions must be examined and compared to other therapies. This research might improve individuals’ and families’ medical family therapy and mental health care.
Application of the “person-of-The-Therapist” (POTT) Framework
“Person-of-the-therapist” (POTT) is a valuable method for understanding medical family therapy and how therapists’ traits and experiences affect patient results. In Singapore, mental health treatment may need collaboration between medical family therapists and other medical experts to offer complete patient care. The POTT framework allows Singaporean medical family therapists to evaluate their roles and partnerships with other medical specialists. This examination may improve patient results and boost holistic mental health treatment. Over the past few decades, medical family therapy has significantly advanced mental health. Medical family therapy helps teens with depression and suicidal ideation. Medical family therapy benefits this region.
A comprehensive study and meta-analysis by Aalberg (2023) found that family therapy may alleviate adolescent depression and suicidal thoughts. The research found that medical-family therapy reduced teenage suicide ideation and depression, particularly when combined with individual and family therapy. Attachment-centred family therapy treats several mental health issues. Diamond et al. (2016) examined productive emotional processing in attachment-based family therapy for unresolved anger. This research examined ABT for unresolved rage. The research found that attachment-based family therapy helps youth with unresolved anger by supporting emotional processing.
Attachment-based family therapy helps teens with unresolved rage. Feder and Diamond (2015) studied attachment-based family therapy for suicidal and depressed teenagers. The researchers found that the therapy’s effectiveness depended on the therapist-parent relationship and the parents’ attachment-enhancing activities. Medical family therapy for teenage anorexia nervosa is also effective. Family counselling following inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa is helpful. Godart et al. (2012) tested supplemental family therapy for teenage anorexia. The study assessed the therapy’s efficacy. The research found that teenagers with anorexia nervosa who added family therapy to their primary treatment improved their body mass index and quality of life.
Singapore’s primary care mental illness therapy now includes patients’ families. Hatta Santoso Ong, Fernandez, and Lim (2021) examined the benefit of family engagement in primary care for mentally ill patients. The research found that incorporating the family in primary care mental illness therapy was effective as patient outcomes improved. Medical family therapists need the POTT framework. However, Singapore’s unique qualities may provide several complications. Medical family therapists may struggle to secure a place on the healthcare team in the future. Medical family therapy is not widely known in Singapore, and medical practitioners may not know its advantages.
Medical family therapists may need to educate colleagues on their role in holistic patient care. Family therapists may need to learn how to handle their colleagues’ biases and experiences when working with other medical specialists. In a high-pressure, fast-paced medical context, therapists may struggle to regulate their prejudices and working experiences. Self-awareness and contemplation are valued in POTT. Cultural issues may also impact how medical family therapists engage with patients. Medical family therapists who share their patients’ cultural backgrounds may be better able to understand and solve their patients’ mental health issues. Medical family therapists must be mindful of cultural variations and how they may affect therapy.
Feder and Diamond (2015) found that the parent-therapist interaction and parent attachment-promoting behaviour in attachment-based family therapy for suicidal and depressed adolescents contributed to favourable results. Attachment-based family treatment for suicidal and depressed teenagers involves these elements. The research found that optimal therapy requires a strong therapeutic interaction with the patient’s parents. Focus on this. The research also stressed the need for therapists to be conscious of their biases and experiences while working with patients and their families.
Mental Health Treatment
In Singapore, Hatta Santoso Ong and colleagues 2021 found that primary care mental health therapy must include patients’ families. The patient’s family must be included in mental healthcare to provide thorough treatment and support. By addressing cultural variables, family therapy may enhance communication, family connections, and mental health. In a multicultural society like Singapore, where patients come from various cultural backgrounds, medical family therapists who share their patients’ cultures may be more equipped to handle cultural factors affecting mental health. Medical family therapists in multicultural Singapore are more likely to see patients from other cultures.
Medical family therapists may have problems communicating and collaborating with other medical professionals, which might lead to misunderstandings and arguments (Aalberg, 2023). Medical family therapists may need help establishing themselves in the healthcare team. Medical family therapy and its advantages may be new to other doctors. According to Ibrahim et al. (2017), the fast-paced and high-pressure healthcare industry may make it tougher for medical family therapists to actively hide their prejudices and job experiences to treat patients effectively. Medical family therapists may struggle to deliver optimal treatment.
In conclusion, medical family therapists must use the person-of-the-therapist paradigm to understand how their personal traits and life experiences may affect patient treatment. The finest patient care requires this knowledge. Medical family therapy has contributed to Medicine, particularly mental health, in recent years. These efforts were very helpful. Family therapy helps treat mental illness, particularly in teens. This therapy benefits teens best. Singaporean primary care providers have realized the need for family involvement in mental illness treatment in recent years. Medical family therapists who share their patients’ cultural backgrounds may be better able to address cultural variables impacting mental health. Medical family therapists may have problems communicating and collaborating with other medical professionals, which might lead to misunderstandings and disagreements. Family therapists may enhance patient outcomes and promote holistic mental health by knowing the person-of-the-therapist paradigm.
References
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Diamond, G. M., Shahar, B., Sabo, D., & Tsvieli, N. (2016). Attachment-based family therapy and emotion-focused therapy for unresolved anger: The role of productive emotional processing. Psychotherapy, 53(1), 34–44. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000025
Feder, M. M., & Diamond, G. M. (2015). Parent-therapist alliance and parent attachment-promoting behaviour in attachment-based family therapy for suicidal and depressed adolescents. Journal of Family Therapy, 38(1), 82–101. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12078
Godart, N., Berthoz, S., Curt, F., Fabienne Perdereau, Rein, Z., Wallier, J., Anne-Sophie Horreard, Irène Kaganski, R. Lucet, Atger, F., Corcos, M., Fermanian, J., Falissard, B., Flament, M. F., Eisler, I., & Philippe Jeammet. (2012). A Randomized Controlled Trial of Adjunctive Family Therapy and Treatment as Usual Following Inpatient Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa Adolescents. PLOS ONE, 7(1), e28249–e28249. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0028249
Hatta Santoso Ong, Paula Ann Fernandez, & Hui Yin Lim. (2021). Family engagement as part of managing patients with mental illness in primary care. Singapore Medical Journal, 62(5), 213–219. https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2021057
Ibrahim, M., Russon, J., & Diamond, G. S. (2017). Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Depressed and Suicidal Adolescents: Development, Research and Clinical Practice. Springer EBooks, 505–521. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4816-6_27
Kang, Y. Q., & Teo, A. R. (2020). The influence of culture on family dynamics and mental health care in Singapore. Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 49(6), 429-435. https://doi.org/10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2020124
Lim, S. C., Ng, Y. L., & Yeo, S. S. (2020). “We are one”: narrative family therapy in mental health in Singapore. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 31(2), 173-186. https://doi.org/10.1080/08975353.2020.1725221
Noa Tsvieli, Ofir Nir-Gottlieb, Chen Chana Lifshitz, Diamond, G. S., Kobak, R., & Diamond, G. L. (2020). Therapist Interventions Associated with Productive Emotional Processing in the Context of Attachment‐Based Family Therapy for Depressed and Suicidal Adolescents. Family Process, 59(2), 428–444. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12445
Smith, A., & Cook-Cottone, C. (2011). A Review of Family Therapy as an Effective Intervention for Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescents. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 18(4), 323–334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-011-9262-3
Tan, K. W., Chew, Q. H., & Ho, C. S. (2019). Family-based mental health interventions in migrant populations: A systematic review. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 21(4), 925-940. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0836-4
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