2005-04-05 useful for anyone working with families

Family Matters focuses on the research and clinical experiences which bridge the traditional gap between child and adult mental heath. The book is substantial but not heavy-going. Its twenty-two chapters look at the complex interfaces between child and adult mental health from every angle. It covers 'continuities' between childhood disorders into adulthood, children's experience of major psychiatric disorder in their parent but also the impact of children on their parents. It considers the children of mothers with eating disorders and the impact of parental anxiety disorder on children. Family Matters, though, not only represents an excellent review of relevant literature, but includes chapters about innovative service developments in the field. It discusses how we can involve the children when working with parents with mental health problems, how parenting skills can impact on the family's ability to cope and principles for liaison between child and adult psychiatric services.

There is much that is directly applicable to practitioners of family therapy. It is often only when we begin to work purposefully with families that adult workers come into professional contact with children. CAMHS workers, on the other hand, are experienced at working with the families of children with whom they are involved but, so they tell me, sometimes lack confidence when working with parents with severe mental illness.

Family Matters provides much material for reflection and discussion for all of us, whether we work with children, adults or families. Unusually, for an edited collection involving 24 contributors, the chapters are of a consistently high quality in terms of the relevance to mental heath practice and clarity and cogency of thought and expression. Many involved with the Meriden Programme will be familiar with the work of Adrian Falkov and his Crossing Bridges training materials. Family Matters complements Falkov's work well, filling in the background, expanding and extending our knowledge in a readable and illuminating way.