THE practice of family psychiatry yields a point of view about depression which does not conflict with the standard psychiatric conceptions of depression, as summarized by Redlich and Freedman,1 nor with the contributions of Grinker et al,2 nor with Arieti3; what it might offer would be a supplement based on difference of perspective.
What is here meant by "family psychiatry" is a mode of practice which permits all members of a family to be accepted for treatment either as individuals or in groups of two or more persons up to and including the entire family unit. This may be distinguished from conjoint family therapy in that the entire family is not required to participate in treatment; family members other than the patient may be seen for the purpose of getting, giving, or sharing information, or they