Collaboration between Social Workers and Families of Patients with Mental Illness

Abstract

The author examines collaboration between families of patients with severe mental illness and inpatient social workers as measured by a study that assessed the degree to which families and practitioners collaborate, factors that influence collaboration, and the effects of collaboration on clinical outcome. Social workers and family members were surveyed at the time of the patient's discharge from the inpatient unit. Findings revealed a relatively high degree of collaboration. The strongest predictor of collaboration was the practitioner's attitude toward family involvement in the patient's treatment. In addition, higher levels of collaboration were significantly correlated with increased family involvement in discharge planning and satisfaction with social work services.