Abstract



	Prescription-Filling as a Dependent Variable in the Study of Psychosomatic Families: A Demonstration - Family Systems Medicine

	*Abstract*
	Discusses the use of prescription-filling rates in the study of psychosomatic families, using as an example the case history of a family comprised of a 48-yr-old mother, a 27-yr-old daughter, a 17-yr-old son (the identified patient [IP]), and a 9-yr-old son. The father had maintained minimal contact after a divorce 10 yrs earlier. Each S in the family reported a history of an uncommon amount of physical complaints. The presenting problem was the IP's headaches, for which no cause was discovered. After therapeutic interventions were conducted, rapid and dramatic reductions in prescription-filling were noted for the IP, some reductions were noted for the mother, and no change was evident in the other Ss. It is suggested that prescription-filling is a useful dependent variable for assessing change in psychosomatic families, providing objective definitions and reliable, ethical measures.