Communication in Lower Class Families of Schizophrenics: I. Methodological Problems

REPORTS in the psychiatric literature of recent years have indicated the existence of severe disturbances in the interaction and communication within families of schizophrenic patients. Earlier studies by Lidz^1,2 emphasize certain pathological marital relationships, while Bateson and Jackson³ note particular interactional patterns such as the "double bind" in families of schizophrenics. More recently Wynne,^{4 ,5} in examining family transactional process, has been able to differentiate blindly between families of schizophrenics and both neurotic and normal families on the basis of samples of their communications. These analyses of interaction and communication among family members of schizophrenic patients have usually examined intact families, and have generally omitted "broken homes" and physically disintegrated families from investigation. In addition, the families "available" for study were those who could afford the time in the doctor's office and who were sufficiently motivated