ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the family therapy process for children diagnosed with childhood depression who also showed a significant reduction of anxiety during therapy. It questions whether the concept of co-morbidity is helpful for systemic/family therapists, and proposes interventions that may help reduce anxiety in the context of family therapy. The chapter focuses on a qualitative research study that applied a discourse analysis of 17 transcripts from family therapy sessions with seven children and their families who were part of the larger outcome study that compared family therapy to individual child psychotherapy combined with parent work. Systemic therapists trained to see descriptions and labels as the product of a larger interactive, social process are often perplexed about what to make of traditional medical or psychological diagnoses, such as childhood depression. An appreciation of co-morbidity in childhood depression can affect the recognition of this syndrome, and, by recognizing it early, there may be increased chances of successful treatment.
