"William R. McFarlane has known for more than three decades that families have the power to deal with problems caused by a member struggling with serious mental illness. He developed multifamily groups as the tool to harness this power. Multifamily groups are opportunities for family members to swap information and share support, so that all involved can withstand the challenges of psychiatric disability. In this single authoritative book, McFarlane and his colleagues have captured the methods and strengths of the approach. This is 'must' reading and an exceptional resource for service providers."--Patrick W. Corrigan, PsyD, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, University of Chicago

"Education of patients and their caregivers about mental disorders, and effective integrated biomedical and psychosocial treatment, are now well established as major components of effective mental health programs. McFarlane and his colleagues have pioneered and refined the multifamily group approach as an excellent means of providing long-term structured problem solving to facilitate clinical and social recovery from major disorders. This volume provides a clear description of the theory, practice, efficacy, and dissemination of the multifamily educational approach for psychotic disorders, as well as its integration with other evidence-based treatments."--Ian R. H. Falloon, MD, DSc, Department of Psychiatry, University of Auckland, New Zealand

"William R. McFarlane's work on developing the multifamily group intervention has been a leap forward in the treatment of serious mental illness. This extensive form of family psychoeducation results in reduced relapse rates as well as improved quality of life for both patients and family members. In this book, which includes contributions from a number of professionals using multifamily methods, Dr. McFarlane offers a virtually encyclopedic guide to the approach. It is essential reading for anyone working with people with serious mental illness."--Dale L. Johnson, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Houston; Past President, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

"This book is a must for any mental health professional who has an interest in families. It deals with an area and a methodology that were little recognized even a few years ago and that are now recognized as being of primary importance for clinical practice, teaching, and research. Multifamily Groups in the Treatment of Severe Psychiatric Disorders deserves a place on the bookshelf of every mental health professional."--Psychiatric Services

"...an important contribution to the treatment of people who suffer from mental illness as well as to their families....a comprehensive volume, taking the reader from theory through empirical trials to running groups to setting up the programs....William McFarlane has written a book that every clinical director, group program coordinator, and agency-based group therapist should read. He provides details of what he and his colleagues have done and lays out a path to a new and important area for group therapy in the treatment of severe and chronic illnesses."--International Journal of Group Psychotherapy

"I found myself wondering how the information in this book could reach a wider audience. It is not likely to be a title that catches the eye of primary providers. I would hope to find it on the desk of every director of a community mental health program across the country. I intend to give a copy to the one in my community. I hope the information in the first section might show up in primary care journals as review articles, and certainly as required content in every psychiatry residency program."--Families, Systems & Health

"...should be considered essential reading for anyone interested in implementing or learning more about the use of multifamily groups with schizophrenic patients and their families. McFarlane provides information so detailed that the second portion of the book functions as a treatment manual. Additionallly, those interested in studying the efficacy of multifamily groups with non-schizophrenic populations may find this to be a useful literature review. This volume is exceptionally accessible, and therefore, suitable for students interested in working with schizophrenic patients and those interested in better understanding the biological, psychological and social processes influencing the course and symptomatology of schizophrenia. Leukens and McFarlane's thorough treatment of the social and psychological contexts of schizophrenia is one of this book's greatest strengths and recommending features. McFarlane and his contributing authors have done the mental health community a great service by increasing awareness of multifamily therapy, an under-utilized and empirically-supported hybrid of family therapy, group therapy, and psychoeducation."--The Clinical Psychologist