Family Intervention — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ

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ModerateSchizophrenia & PsychosisFamily InterventionMRCPsych Paper B

A 22-year-old woman with first-episode psychosis lives with her parents, who remain closely involved in her care. She and her parents agree to family intervention. Which programme most closely matches the delivery recommended by NICE?

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Correct answer: A — At least 10 planned sessions delivered over 3 to 12 months

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · D = shown as B · A = shown as C · E = shown as D · B = shown as E

NICE recommends that family intervention for psychosis or schizophrenia should include at least 10 planned sessions and be delivered over 3 months to 1 year. The person with psychosis should be included where practical. The intervention may use a single-family or multifamily format and should have a supportive, educational or treatment function, including negotiated problem-solving or crisis-management work. Options A and B provide too few sessions and are shorter than the recommended minimum duration. Option D extends beyond the recommended 1-year delivery period and specifies an unnecessary 20-session minimum. A single meeting, as in option E, does not constitute the structured family intervention recommended by NICE.

Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Psychosis and schizophrenia in adults: prevention and management (CG178), recommendation 1.3.7.2, 2014; reviewed 2025. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg178/chapter/recommendations