Family Relational Problems: Their Place in the Study of Psychopathology

The role of family relational problems in the assessment and treatment of psychopathology, including the relationship between family and individual disorders, is considered in this article. The study of family relational problems is placed in historical context, and methods and domains in the assessment of family problems are discussed. Consideration is given to how family relational problems are to be defined and diagnosed, and current classification schemes are reviewed. Methods of family treatment and their efficacy are used to illustrate the importance of family problems within the field of clinical science. Recommendations for how family relational problems may best be conceptualized within the broader arena of psychopathology are offered.