Abstract
To clarify the relationships of families of patients with schizophrenia, we applied family system theory to a qualitative analysis of the narratives of three mothers of such patients, focusing on the family subsystem power structure. Four stages representing the family's situation and 26 large categories indicating power structure were selected. In the stage where "the family was aware of the patient's symptoms and let them consult a doctor", conflicts and divisions occurred among family members, including grandmothers. In the stage where "the family was at the mercy of the patient's condition", the family reduced their contact with outsiders and their focus on the patient hindered their functioning. In the stage where "the family groped in anguish for ways to manage the patient", they regained their internal ties in the wake of a marital subsystem alliance and interacted with outsiders. In the stage where "the family reorganized the patient's home life", their relationships, including siblings, became harmonious. To ease the conflicts between family members and guide them towards harmony, we obtained suggestions for disease education for each individual family member, interventions to regulate the parent-patient relationship similar to the marital subsystem alliance, and support for siblings in vulnerable situations.
