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Introduction: Interprofessional collaborative practice (ICP) is essential for optimizing patient outcomes in health care settings. Experiential learning (EL) is a method of modeling ICP to students during their education. No studies have evaluated the lasting impact of EL on self-reported clinical practice after students graduate. The aims of this study are to (a) examine what opportunities for ICP are available for alumni in current health care settings and (b) explore the early career impact of interprofessional EL on self-reported current clinical practice. Methods: This study utilized a mixed-methods design using descriptive statistics and a phenomenological approach. Participants included Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) alumni who previously participated as graduate students in Balanced Families (BF), an interprofessional EL program. Sixty-four alumni were contacted through e-mail, of which 17 (27%) agreed to be interviewed. Results: Quantitative data were analyzed utilizing descriptive statistics to describe demographics and summarize Likert scale responses. Qualitative data were analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. Five major themes were reflected in the transcripts: (a) The impact of interprofessional experiential learning on future clinical practice, (b) The value of holistic approaches, (c) The collaboration in holistic care, (d) The interconnected health care system and family system, and (e) The development of empathy for patients and their families. Discussion: Interprofessional EL positively impacted DPT and MAMFT alumni, improving interprofessional communication skills and leading to more holistic approaches to care. Study outcomes support continued implementation of interprofessional EL in health care graduate study programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A growing recognition of the need for specialized training to prepare health care providers to work in integrated care (IC) settings requires innovative methods to educate learners. There is an opportunity to provide IC trainees with relevant experiential opportunities to practice these techniques using simulation-based learning, a well-established training approach in medical education. Method: This pilot study sought to examine the feasibility of using simulation-based learning in the interprofessional training of Marital and Family Therapy (MFT) and Family Nursing Practitioner (FNP) trainees in relevant integrated care competencies. Participants included 26 learners (21 MFT and five FNP). The case simulation event involved students completing a video telehealth clinical encounter involving a warm handoff. Clinical faculty observed trainees, completed a checklist designed specifically for the event, and provided feedback directly after the event. Results: Trainees reported high satisfaction with the use of simulation-based learning. Observational coding revealed that trainees successfully implemented many elements of a warm handoff, however, aspects involving interprofessional communication, brief intervention, and follow-up planning appeared more challenging. Discussion: Increased utilization of interprofessional case simulation training in masters and doctoral level behavioral health programs could help accelerate the development of a competent integrated care workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reviews the documentary film, UNSTUCK: An OCD Kids Movie by Kelly Anderson and Chris Baier (2017). In the film, Anderson and Baier interview six children diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), whom they refer to as "kid experts." It provides a new way of educating the public on a psychological disorder that is often casually referenced but frequently misunderstood. With its focus on children and their families, UNSTUCK offers families, educators, therapists, and researchers alike a viewpoint often overlooked in current film and literature regarding OCD: the viewpoints of the children and adolescents themselves. Individuals working in pediatrics or family therapy, thosewith personal or family experience with OCD, and those interested in learning more about the patient-child experience of psychiatric disorders and corresponding impact on family dynamics will be interested in this film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals experience more negative health outcomes compared with their heterosexual peers. The health disparities are often related to family and social rejection of the LGBT individuals. Integrated care, and Medical Family Therapy in particular, may aid in addressing the systemic nature of the negative health outcomes. Method: To better understand the current state of the integrated care literature on addressing the health needs of LGBT individuals, a systematic review of the research literature was conducted from January 2000 to January 2016 for articles including integrated health care interventions for LGBT populations. Independent reviewers coded identified articles. Results: Only 8 research articles met criteria for inclusion out of the 2,553 initially identified articles in the search. Results indicated a lack of integrated care research on health care and health needs of LGBT individuals, and none of the articles addressed the use of family or systemic-level interventions. Discussion: Implications for future research and the need for better education training are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on the article, ""Stimulating Reflective Practice Using Collaborative Reflective Training in Breaking Bad News Simulations," by Kim, Hernandez, Lavery, and Denmark (see record 2016-18380-001). Kim et al. are applauded for engaging and supporting the development of simulation-based education, and for their efforts to create an interprofessional learning environment. However, we hope further work on alternate methods of debriefing leverage the already inherent activation of learners that builds on previous experience, fosters reflection and builds skills. What is needed is the transference of learning theories into our educational research efforts that measure the effectiveness, validation, and reliability of behavior based performance change. The majority of breaking bad news (BBN) curricula limit program evaluations to reports of learner satisfaction, confidence and self-efficacy, rather than determining the successful translation of effective and humanistic interpersonal skills into long-term clinical practice (Rosenbaum et al., 2004). Research is needed to investigate how educational programs affect provider-patient-family interaction, and ultimately patient and family understanding, to better inform our teaching BBN skills. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Given the interdependent nature of relationships within the family system, the purpose of this study was to examine the potential role of child-parent psychotherapy (CPP) to extend its positive influence beyond the mother-child relationship within families challenged by maternal depression. Accordingly, we analyzed longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction over 3 years in order to evaluate if the benefits of CPP to mother-child attachment security might generalize within the family and indirectly benefit marital relationships.Method: We tested our hypotheses in a randomized control trial of CPP (N = 159 families) to examine the intervention's efficacy in families with mothers with histories of depression since the target child's birth (Mage = 20.4 months, SD = 2.5; 56% boys).Results: Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) with an actor-partner interdependence modeling (APIM) framework, the results supported our hypothesis as well as revealed significant associations between depressive symptoms and marital functioning. Specifically, shifts in mothers' depressive symptoms within specific waves of follow-up were associated with corresponding shifts in both their husbands' and their own relationship satisfaction in those same waves. After controlling for those effects, only mothers with a history of depression who received CPP demonstrated slight improvements in relationship satisfaction over the 3 years of the study, suggesting secondary benefits of CPP within the family system.Discussion: Results are discussed in terms of the importance of examining therapeutic processes within the larger family system. Concerning future research, we also suggest examining potential mechanisms through which CPP might influence marital satisfaction. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on an article by C. J. Peek that focuses on Don Bloch's vision of collaborative family health care and the evolution over the past 20 years of the field. He mentions the importance of family in Bloch's and the Wingspread workgroup's ecosystemic collaborative care model. The author thinks that the ability of the health care consumer and professionals to collaborate in a more egalitarian and less hierarchial manner hinders progress.

Background: Don Bloch is the central figure in the origin story for the field of collaborative family health care; the journal Families, Systems, & Health; and for the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA). He exerted extraordinary intellectual and practical leadership for all 3. He convened a national working session in 1994 that took stock of the field and set out next steps, one of which was to create the interprofessional organization dedicated to collaborative family health care that is now CFHA. Purpose: As part of honoring Don Bloch's contributions to the field and this journal, this article sets out tenets of his original vision and traces next steps toward this vision generated by national groups between 1994 and 2014, showing what is the same or different over these 20 years, and especially what this means for the field going forward. Method: Precepts of Don Bloch's original vision are drawn from his writings, including the briefing papers he prepared for the national Wingspread group convened in 1994, which also set out next steps for the field. These steps are then compared with next developmental steps for the field generated by CFHA conference attendees in 2004 and again in 2014, after reviewing the history of the organization and the field. Conclusion: Much of Don Bloch's vision has remained relevant to health care transformation, with a number of areas showing significant accomplishment and acceptance, whereas others remain aspirational, and a few others arguably being more difficult to achieve now than when Don articulated them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy may have chronic physical impairment in their affected upper extremity. Affected children and their families may benefit from psychosocial interventions including therapeutic relationships with health professionals, meeting other families living with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy, support groups, and social work. One method of addressing psychosocial needs is through a support and education day. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to evaluate parental perceptions of a support and education day called the "Brachial Plexus Family Day." Families of children with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy who attended the Brachial Plexus Family Day completed a questionnaire to evaluate the different programs offered during the day. The families also ranked the importance of different psychosocial supports offered in the clinic. Sixty-three out of 69 families completed the questionnaire. Each program of the Brachial Plexus Family Day was rated as good or excellent by the respondents. Ninety-seven percent of respondents rated meeting other families and children with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy as helpful supports. Attending a Brachial Plexus Family day event (86%), followed by connecting with a doctor (60%), and physical or occupational therapist (59%) were the highest ranked supports reported by the families. The parents and caregivers that attended the Brachial Plexus Family Day rated the program highly. This group also valued the opportunity to connect with other families and children affected with the same condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort to identify the essential ingredients of medical family therapy, a content analysis of 15 peer-reviewed case studies in medical family therapy was conducted. The case studies were published from 1996 to 2007 in Families, Systems, & Health. Through a qualitative content analysis, three main themes emerged that describe the essence of the practice of medical family therapy: (1) The patient's multisystemic experience of disease, (2) treatment is about caring, not just caregiving, and (3) elevating the patient as collaborator in the care team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an effective method for clinicians to guide and support individuals who wish to make complex health behavior changes; however, little research is available to support its use in the treatment of obesity, particularly in family based therapy and multidisciplinary team settings. The objective of this case report is to demonstrate the application of MI within a family based, multidisciplinary treatment program, and provide examples of MI in obesity treatment. We report a case study on the use of MI with behavioral therapy in a pediatric, family based, multidisciplinary weight management program (Brenner FIT Program). Tina, a 14-year-old White female, and her mother participated in the Brenner FIT Program where we successfully integrated MI into her obesity treatment. Further work is needed in the application of MI to diverse care teams to determine frequency of training required for effective use of MI in obesity treatment, its limitations, and its feasibility in community-based programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged and inconsolable new infant crying is 1 of the most challenging tasks for parental caregivers to ameliorate and manage. As parent(s) attempt to meet the stressors associated with this situation, multiple subsystems within the family may be adversely affected. Lasting interactional difficulties often result, interfering with the healthy development of parent-child and parent-parent dyads. This article examines these risks to the family system, suggests an important role for intervention by family practitioners, and presents recommendations for intervention by clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family therapists working in medical contexts often struggle to find a common language for communication with medical staff about the importance of family support. HIV positive youth are a group who have particular need for family support to help improve medication adherence, promote more open and positive communication, and decrease substance use and risk behaviors. In this paper, the authors retrospectively examined the levels of family support in a sample of 50 North American urban minority youth coping with HIV in an HIV/AIDs pediatric clinic from 2003 to 2007 at 2 time points (pre- and postdiagnosis) and began developing a clinician-rated family support tool. The authors highlight the use of a common clinician-rated family support tool for medical and mental health staff to discuss patients and their families. Results suggest that the family support youth were receiving fell between mixed and unsupportive levels both at pre- and postdiagnosis. Through the use of a case example the authors elaborate on how this family support tool aided in building a collaborative relationship with a focus on garnering family support for youth coping with the diagnosis of HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a young married couple, expecting their first child, who presented for an acute visit at a psychiatric clinic because the father-to-be was experiencing increased anxiety and having difficulty sleeping. Topics include the results of the father's trial with an antipsychotic for sleep and follow-up visit with a mental health provider, the parents struggles with breast feeding the baby, and the conflict between the parents and the baby's healthcare team.

As the subdiscipline of medical family therapy grows, collaborative partnerships between family therapy programs and HIV/ AIDS clinics represent a promising opportunity to systemically address the medical, intrapersonal, and interpersonal issues that often arise when a family member is coping with the diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS. This article highlights a successful collaboration between Drexel's Couple and Family Therapy Program and a Pediatric and Adolescent HIV/AIDS clinic at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. The authors describe a brief history of St. Christopher's Pediatric and Adolescent HIV/AIDS clinic and its transition from a more traditional nonfamily therapy model to one that is systemic. An illustrative case example and lessons learned about developing successful collaborations with HIV/ AIDS clinics are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used a grounded theory approach to examine and describe the process of conducting Medical Family Therapy (MedFT) in an inpatient psychiatric system. Fifteen clinical cases were analyzed from the point of view of the patient, family/support member, referring providers, and MedFTs. In this study, MedFT appears to function well when there are high levels of collaboration with the patient, family, and referring provider. The participants in this study reported that MedFT was effective in helping them deal with complex family dynamics that often surround psychiatric hospitalization, and in helping patients and their families initiate systemic changes that help to reduce the possibility of further hospitalization for psychiatric issues. Effective MedFT approaches used in this setting are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Latino population in the United States is growing at an exponential rate. As a medically underserved population, Latinos experience many health disparities, including those related to mental health. Current research suggests that Latinos in the United States are at high risk for problems such as anxiety, depression, somatization disorders, and substance abuse, yet, often these health needs go unmet. This article suggests that an effective method of reaching and treating more Latinos is through medical family therapy. Because Latinos may be more likely to seek help from a physician for mental health complaints, and because marriage and family therapists may be most culturally congruent in their orientation to therapy, collaboration between health care providers and medical family therapists is logical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the author's opinion on medical family therapy in a psychiatric inpatient setting. The author notes how attending physicians often do not meet with their patients' family members unless they are pressured to do so by social workers. Studies which prove that family involvement improves patient outcomes and decreases instances of hospitalization are discussed.

Much attention has been given to increased collaborative efforts between psychotherapists and the medical community. Medical family therapy (MedFT) provides a bridge between psychotherapy and medicine for individuals and families. The authors of this article present a literature review of the empirical research on the efficacy and effectiveness of MedFT as the primary form of psychotherapy treatment within an interdisciplinary medical treatment team. This literature review spanned a time period from 1965 through 2004. The authors discuss difficulties in defining MedFT and conducting research in the field, provide a review of the outcome benefits of including mental health professionals on collaborative health care teams, and provide suggestions for future research that demonstrates empirical support for the effectiveness of MedFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the field of collaborative and integrated medicine grows, family therapy and other behavioral science training programs are expanding to offer courses in medical family therapy. These courses and certificate training programs offer students experience that allows them to successfully integrate their skills into a medical setting. One significant element of this training focuses on the cultural differences between a medical clinic and a mental health clinic. Professional assumptions, when ignored or beyond awareness, can easily interfere with appropriate and valuable patient care. In this article, the authors describe the formation and implementation of a postgraduate training certificate in medical family therapy at Seattle Pacific University, with particular focus on internship development. The authors weave in the key questions addressed and answered as the program took shape and grew in its first 5 years of implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relational/cultural theory asserts that the main healing power of an eating disorders psychoeducational multifamily therapy group (PMFTG) comes from the sense of mutual empathy and empowerment experienced within its diverse therapeutic social network. In this article the author describes the Unity Multifamily Therapy Group (UMFTG) model, a group that builds on the work of McFarlane and integrates a relational/cultural approach to PMFTG with more traditional cognitive-behavioral and motivational approaches. The author will first provide a review of the literature regarding PMFTG and its effectiveness in the treatment of eating disorders. The goals, strategies, and content of the U-MFTG sessions are then discussed and illustrated with various clinical vignettes. The article ends with a discussion of implications for practice and research related to the use of this treatment modality. In this new integrated model for PMFTG, families and patients are helped to honor difference within a strong connection with one another to identify various disconnections that keep the eating disorder in place and build new relational opportunities in recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the authors summarize beliefs regarding the cause and timing of multiple sclerosis in a sample of midwestern patients and their attempts to make meaning of the experience of living with multiple sclerosis. The process of making meaning is distinguished from the content of beliefs and is related to perceived quality of life. Implications for the stress and adaptation literature, family therapy, and information science are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to gain a greater understanding of the effects cancer has on families while simultaneously developing family therapy interventions that are helpful for families experiencing the crucible of cancer. On the basis of an action research paradigm, the authors designed an intensive case-analysis protocol involving reflective interviewing to learn about the personal perspectives of family members who participate in therapeutic treatment for cancer. An integration of reflective insight by the families, their therapist, and the research team ultimately revealed that cancer families face an ongoing struggle (a) between feelings of isolation and connectedness, (b) to make meaning of cancer in their life, and (c) to find ways of incorporating cancer into their current world view. The study also revealed shared experience building and interactive psychoeducation to be the most significant components of the therapeutic treatment process for cancer families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study, a qualitative case series report with a quantitative component, explores the relation between changes in family interaction patterns and therapy outcome at 9-month follow-up in a child- and family-oriented psychosocial treatment program developed to treat pediatric primary headache. Changes in the family interaction patterns of 38 children and adolescents diagnosed according to International Headache Society criteria were examined via qualitative methods. Therapy outcome was assessed on an 11-point numeric rating scale measuring the reduction of subjectively experienced global headache burden. At follow-up, 1 subgroup of families showed positive change, and a 2nd subgroup displayed either unchanged or worsened headache-associated interaction patterns. Participants from families with a positive change in headache-associated interaction patterns showed a 64% reduction (p = .00) of global headache burden; participants with unchanged or worsened family interaction patterns showed only a 17% reduction. The findings are illustrated by case histories and discussed in the context of dynamic systems theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is a growing health concern in the United States. Because of the complexity of diabetes, researchers have found collaborative care for diabetic patients to be effective. The University of Nebraska Medical Center applied this approach in an interdisciplinary student-run clinic to provide treatment to low-income, noninsured, diabetic patients. Students who run this clinic are from a variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dietetics, and medical technology. Medical family therapy was added to the team after a need for more holistic treatment arose. Benefits of this model include a biopsychosocial perspective from which to view treatment, a foundation for future collaboration, an opportunity for cross training, and immediacy of on-site consultation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the difficulties often encountered by physicians treating patients with diabetes. Group visits are a unique approach to tackling these difficulties. Group visits, specific for diabetes, ensure continuing diabetic education, ensure that appropriate testing is being done, and provide a means for documenting all the American Diabetes Association recommendations are being met. This article provides one physician's firsthand experience with conducting group visits for his diabetic patients and reveals the tremendous benefits both he and his patients have shared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant regional, population structure, and social changes that have taken place in Finland since World War II have affected well-being and health among the population in many ways. From the 1960s onward, family orientation started to gain ground, first in psychiatry, and about two decades later it began to he applied in the work of family doctors as well. This article describes this development process and presents some innovative new projects promoting family therapy and systemic family medicine. In the opinion of the authors, the problems of individuals and families that health care professionals are faced with are often so complex that an inter professional approach supporting the clients' own resources is beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the Keeping Families Healthy program of the University of Florida to address the importance of interdisciplinary healthcare training in the context of geriatric medicine. Focus of the learning objectives; Importance of the home visit experience; Participation of community volunteer families.

Focuses on the integration of complementary and alternative medicine into collaborative family healthcare practices in the U.S. Benefits of alternative medicine; Details on medical systems used; Implications of the collaboration between a marriage and family therapist and a naturopathic physician.

Discusses various aspects of family therapy and psychiatry in North Carolina. Description of the model of collaboration implemented in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine; Prevalence of the psychoanalytic structures of psychiatry; Assessment on medical therapy program.

Studies the application of the statistical assessment of clinical significance of family therapy with diabetic adolescents. Recruitment of participants; Demographics of treated and normative sample of participants; Treatment groups; Limitations of the study; Contribution to the literature addressing the clinical significance of psychotherapeutic interventions.

Discusses an innovative approach to educating healthcare professionals in family systems theory, namely the use of selected clips from popular movies on video. Powerful and entertaining medium to expose learners to family therapy concepts; Broadening of awareness to family related issues.

The article presents information on a study which determines the effect of family on individuals. The study shows that family support helps individuals to change health behaviors. The study findings suggest that family variables interact with individuals' psychology to ensure individuals' success in managing health-related problems.

C. J. Peek has done us two lasting services with this beautiful summary. He has reminded us of Don Bloch's contributions to the beginning of collaborative family health care, and he has catalogued the elements of Don's vision for the field. Don's vision was for "collaborative family health care." Although we have made a great deal of progress developing collaborative health care that he would endorse, the full vision including the family as a basic unit of care and of understanding in health care is still ahead of us. The requirement of the inclusion of the family in the formulation of the patient-centered medical home may provide the impetus for a full realization of the "unrounded corners" version of Don's vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on C. J. Peek's article about the legacy of family therapist Don Bloch. He mentions the gifts bestowed by Bloch on the field of collaborative family health care such as the Collaborative Family Health Care Association. The author also looks at the depth of Bloch's leadership and how Peek's historical method can be used to get one's act most effectively to advance the field.

Clinicians struggle to understand the relationship of physical ailments and family functioning. This commentary traces one clinician's evolution from the typical linear process to the circular model, which is the basis for describing M. Ochs et al.'s (2005) findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article comments on Carlos Sluzki, a cross-cultural psychiatrist, with specific reference to cross- cultural consultation and teaching of family system therapy. Family systems therapy has been preoccupied for some decades now with problems posed by working in a cross-cultural situation. Working in other countries highlights these issues. To do the job of family therapy properly, therapists must be culturally aware of the culture his patient. An article by Carlos Sluzki presents an illustration of family therapy as cultural exchange. In its supple and subtle qualities, it captures the essence of what therapists are trying to conceive of as the cross-cultural consultation and teaching process.

The author comments on the vision of Don Bloch and his colleagues in the Collaborative Family Health Care Association (CHFCA). He describes Bloch's ecosystemic perspective as well as his emphasis on families. He provides brief background information on CHFCA. The author describes Bloch as a synthetic thinker and a catalytic leader.