Premium
Families' medical myths
Author(s) -
Hardwick Peter J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1467-6427
pISSN - 0163-4445
DOI - 10.1046/j..1989.00330.x
Subject(s) - mythology , phenomenology (philosophy) , psychology , function (biology) , medical practice , health professionals , psychoanalysis , social psychology , medicine , epistemology , family medicine , health care , philosophy , law , political science , art , literature , evolutionary biology , biology
A medical myth is defined as a false or distorted belief regarding issues of health within a family. This empirical study considers phenomenology, function and origins of medical myths operating in some forty families encountered in the author's psychiatric practice. Therapeutic strategies found useful in re‐editing the myths are described. Implications for the family/medical professional relationship are discussed.