[Origin of problematic constellations in psychiatric family care. Theoretical considerations and presentation of the course of a discontinued family care episode]. / Die Genese problematischer Konstellationen in der psychiatrischen Familienpflege. Theoretische Uberlegungen und Darstellung des Verlaufs einer abgebrochenen Familienpflege-Episode.

Psychiatric family care is a therapeutic environment for mentally ill long-term patients that pays particular attention to the individuality of the patient, contrary to the hospitalising psychiatric clinic. The influence exercised by the host family on the positive development of the integration process is undisputed in literature, but has been hardly investigated so far in respect of its actual contents. Those who are practically engaged in family care have been discussing for some time whether successful integration is effected by "good host families" or by the special constellation that develops between the host family and the guest. The present article tries to emphasise (following a review of the literature) on the basis of a discontinued family care episode that integration into a host family is not a static affair but a highly sensitive process determined by the biography of the guest and the integration between host family and guest (or guests). The possible consequences for the care process are discussed.

[Psychiatric family care in Ravensburg-Weissenau--development and initial experiences]. / Die psychiatrische Familienpflege in Ravensburg-Weissenau--Aufbau und erste Erfahrungen.

It is unfortunate that mental patients with long-term hospitalisation patterns are still necessarily scheduled for long-term stay in mental hospitals and institutions designed for the care and treatment of psychiatric cases, since such institutions are characterized by a rather sterile, low-stimulation atmosphere underlining rather than relieving the severity of the disease. This article presents a possible alternative, namely, care of mental patients within the framework of a foster family; these patients has been hospitalised for a long time and are now living in families who are remunerated for their efforts and are given medical assistance in performing their task as hosts. An attempt is made to describe the initial work in setting up such host patterns, particularly during the first year after initiation of the scheme, and to point out the mistakes that were committed and the resulting re-orientation efforts. Case reports on host families and "guests" illustrate the principles of psychiatric family care.