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The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES): an instrument worthy of rehabilitation?

Northumbria University and Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychatrist, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Dover House, Lynn Street, HartlepoolTS24 7LX (e-mail: maurice.place{at}unn.ac.uk)

Jessica Hulsmeier, Research Associate

Faculty of SocialWork and Health, Northumbria, University

Allan Brownrigg, Coordinator

Strength to StrengthTeam, City Hospitals, Sunderland

Alison Soulsby, Coordinator

Strength to StrengthTeam, City Hospitals, Sunderland

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

There have beena variety of instruments developed for evaluating family functioning, but no specific measure has emerged as appropriate for routine clinical use. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES) was viewed as a useful tool for a period, but has been less popular of late. This paper looks at its use in families with two very different types of problem to assess its discriminatory ability.

RESULTS

Mothers with depression whose children were not showing mental health difficulties reported a very different pattern of family functioning from those whose children were showing chronic school refusal.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The FACES is capable of discriminating between different patterns of family functioning. Its ease of administration, and the information it provides, should recommend it for wider use in clinical settings.

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