Couple and family interventions for depressive and bipolar disorders: Evidence base update (2010-2019).

This article systematically reviews the evidence base for couple and family interventions for depressive and bipolar disorders published from 2010 to 2019. Included in the review were intervention studies on depression for couples (n = 6), depression for families (n = 13), and bipolar for families (n = 5); zero studies on couple interventions for bipolar were located. Well-established interventions include cognitive and/or behavioral couple and family interventions for depression and psychoeducational family interventions for bipolar.

The Development and Validation of the FACES-IV-SF.

The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale IV (FACES-IV) was developed to capture the balanced and unbalanced levels of cohesion and flexibility in families. Although this measure has been shown to be valid and reliable, its length at 62 items limits utility and uptake in clinical and research settings. This paper details the development of a shorter form of the FACES-IV (the FACES-IV Short Form) using two studies.

Discrimination, family emotional climate, and African American health: An application of the BBFM.

The Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM) is a biopsychosocial model of health that has been substantiated across multiple studies. However, the findings of those studies are limited given the lack of representation of Black/African American individuals in the samples. Discrimination is a chronic and pervasive stressor for many African American families, yet little is known about connections between discrimination, family relationships, and health.

Family versus intimate partners: Estimating who matters more for health in a 20-year longitudinal study.

This study tested the extent to which the emotional climate (positive and negative relationship quality) in family relationships and intimate partnerships are each uniquely linked to specific domains of aging health outcomes, over and above the impact of earlier health. Data included partnered participants who completed all three waves of the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS). We used measures of family and intimate partner strain and support, at MIDUS 1, 2, and 3, and estimated the effects of each on subsequent morbidity and health appraisal (i.

Close relationships as a contributor to chronic pain pathogenesis: Predicting pain etiology and persistence.

Rationale: Chronic stress contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic pain. Yet, the role of close relationship stress in these pathways to pain is not fully understood.

Objective: To delineate specific psychosocial pathways associated with chronic pain, specifically emphasizing close relationships for midlife adults.

Developing an Inclusive and Welcoming LGBTQ Clinic.

People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) are underserved and face barriers to knowledgeable health care. Most health systems are ill prepared to provide care that addresses the needs of the LGBTQ community. Basic steps to developing an LGBTQ welcoming health care program are presented.

In Our Lives and Under Our Skin: An Investigation of Specific Psychobiological Mediators Linking Family Relationships and Health Using the Biobehavioral Family Model.

The objective of this study was to use the Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM) to delineate which psychophysiological variables link romantic and family relationship satisfaction variables to health outcomes. Data from individuals who reported being partnered from the second wave of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS II), Project 4 (n = 812) were used to test a structural equation model which explored which psychophysiological variables potentially mediated associations between positive and negative family emotional climate variables and disease activity. This model found that current and past family variables had larger associations with the psychophysiological variables than romantic partner variables; depressive symptoms, anxiety, and inflammation partially mediated associations between family relationships and health; and, contrary to the hypotheses, romantic partner and family support were linked to worse health outcomes.

Examining Differentiation of Self as a Mediator in the Biobehavioral Family Model.

The Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM) is a biopsychosocial model of health. This model proposes that biobehavioral reactivity mediates the association between the family emotional climate and disease activity. To improve the clinical relevance of the BBFM, variables that mediate the association between family emotional climate and biobehavioral reactivity need to be tested.

Do the Constructs of the FACES IV Change Based on Definitions of "Family?" A Measurement Invariance Test.

The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale (FACES) IV does not provide instructions about which family members respondents should think about while answering questions. This study examined which family members respondents thought about while completing the FACES IV, and if this changed measurement invariance and population heterogeneity of the measure. Using a sample of n = 511 individuals, a latent class analysis showed three distinct classes: Nuclear Family, Family of Origin, and All of the Above.

The Biobehavioral Family Model: Close relationships and allostatic load.

Rationale: This study tested the inclusion of allostatic load as an expansion of the biobehavioral reactivity measurement in the Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM). The BBFM is a biopsychosocial approach to health which proposes biobehavioral reactivity (anxiety and depression) mediates the relationship between family emotional climate and disease activity.

Methods: Data for this study included a subsample of n = 1255 single and married, English-speaking adult participants (57% female, M age = 56 years) from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS II), a nationally representative epidemiological study of health and aging in the United States.

Predicting Improvement in Depression Across Therapies Using Indicators of Romantic Relationship Functioning: A Preliminary Investigation.

Depression is a common presenting problem, often affected by couple interactions in unique ways. However, research in the area of romantic relationship functioning and depression often replicates previous research or consists of literature reviews, limiting the clinical relevancy. The purpose of this preliminary study is to expand the research on the effects of relational processes on depression treatment outcomes.

Substance abuse treatment response in a Latino sample: the influence of family conflict.

Latino Americans report underutilization of treatment and poor treatment response for substance use and abuse compared to other racial/ethnic groups; thus, it is important to assess factors that contribute to these disparities. The current study objective was to assess the influence of family conflict on substance abuse treatment response in a sample of Latino Americans using two different yet complementary analyses. First, ordinary least squares regression was used to assess the association between overall family conflict and pre- and post-treatment substance use.

The biobehavioral family model: testing social support as an additional exogenous variable.

This study tests the inclusion of social support as a distinct exogenous variable in the Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM). The BBFM is a biopsychosocial approach to health that proposes that biobehavioral reactivity (anxiety and depression) mediates the relationship between family emotional climate and disease activity. Data for this study included married, English-speaking adult participants (n = 1,321; 55% female; M age = 45.

Relational discord in urban primary care: prevalence rates and psychiatric comorbidities.

The current study primarily assesses uninsured, low-income patients (n = 125) in a primary care practice. Despite the knowledge that family relationships affect the management and outcomes of chronic illness, the rates of relational discord among primary care patients are unknown. Findings reveal that 54% of patients met criteria for problematic family functioning, while 40% of those in a romantic relationship reported relationship distress.

A Bowen Family Systems Model of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Romantic Relationship Distress.

Many individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) do not respond well to currently available treatments. Moreover, treatments are less effective when GAD is accompanied by romantic relationship distress. In order to develop effective treatments for GAD and relationship distress, it is necessary to conduct theory-based research to identify links common to both GAD and romantic relationship distress.

Anxiety disorders and the quality of relationships with friends, relatives, and romantic partners.

Objectives: Though research suggests support for the association between marital quality and anxiety disorders, less is known about relationship quality with relatives and friends and anxiety disorders.

Method: Using data from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (n = 9912; mean age 44.8; 52.