Yale-Family Assessment of Needs for Services (FANS)

Abstract

As knowledge of mood disorders grows, it becomes apparent that families of those suffering are greatly affected by these illnesses. Books have been written about how a family can cope with and help a family member with a mood disorder (Golant, 1998; Miklowitz, 2002; Sheffield, 1998; Sheffield, 2003) and research has extended into examining those issues. Family-Focused Therapy incorporates the family and the patient in the therapy treatment (Miklowitz & Goldstein 1997). It is essential that researchers address families as well as patients because most people with a mood disorder must deal with how the family responds, positively or negatively.