Characteristics Of Family Functioning Of Neurosis And Depression Patients And Perceptual Differences Between Patients And Parents

Objective: To explore the characteristics of family functioning of neurosis and depression patients and perceptual differences in family functioning between patients and their parents.Method: 37 families of neurosis patients and 30 families of depression patients and 31 controls' families were assessed by the FES-CV, FACESâ…¡-CV, FAD to examine the family functioning.Results: (1) In the various dimensions of family functioning, scores between neurosis families and controls' families were significantly different (P<0.05). Neurosis patients perceived more negative levels of family functioning than the normal controls in the majority of dimensions, and the differences were significant (P<0.05). Neurosis patients' parents perceived more negative than contols' parents in the dimensions of cohesion, conflict, roles, affective involvement (P<0.05). (2)There were more consistencies between controls' and their parents (P>0.05). But there were more significantly perceptual differences between neurosis patients and their parents in the dimensions of cohesion, moral-religious emphasis, organization, adaptability (P<0.05). (3) Patients with depression perceived more negative levels of family functioning than the normal controls in the majority of dimentions(P<0.05). Depression patients' parents perceived more negative than contols' parents in the dimensions of cohesion, conflict, roles, affective involvement(P<0.05). (4) There were more consistencies between controls' and their parents(P>0.05). But there were more perceptual differences between patients with depression and their parents in the dimensions of cohesion, expressiveness, communication, affective responsiveness(P<0.05).(5) There were sex differences in parent-offspring perceptual differences in families of patients with depression. In achievement orientation and problem solving dimensions, perceptual differences between sons and parents were significantly higher than between daughters and parents(P<0.05). In conflict dimension, difference were significantly greater between fathers and sons than mothers and sons(P<0.05).Conclusion: There were defects in family functioning of patients with neurosis and depression and there were significantly perceptual differences in family functioning between neurosis patients and their parents.