Journal of North Khorasan

Background & Objectives: Relationship between family functioning and psychological characteristics of the individual is one of the most important discussions of family therapy. Schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder are very common in hospitalized patients. So we decided to investigate and campare the family functioning between these two groups of patients.

Material & Methods: In this case control study 50 patients with schizophrenia , 50 patients with bipolar I disorder and control group consists of 50 different professions were evaluated by family assessment device scale (FAD-I). Final results of the three groups were compared by SPSS V21 software.

Results: Findings indicate a significant difference between the two groups with the control group. Family dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia in both sexes was more severe than patients with bipolar I disorder. But in terms of age, significant differences between the two groups was found only in patients 20 to 40 years.

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study due to more severe impairment of family functioning  in patients with schizophrenia, it seems that family therapy as an adjunctive treatment could be helpful.

Key words: Family functioninig , Schizophrenia, Bipolar I disorder