There are some different ideas about family dynamics -particularly schizophrenic, major depressive and bipolar mood disorders- in psychiatric patient's family.

The aim of this study was to consider therapeutic purposes in Iranian patients.

90 randomly selected patients with schizophrenic, major depressive and bipolar mood disorders plus a member of their families - 90 people in 3 groups- who were referred to psychiatric hospitals were evaluated by Iranian version of Family Assessment Device (FAD). Statistical analysis was done at the end.

schizophrenic and bipolar patients who had more negative family functioning were compared with depressed patients. Family members of depressed patients had more negative family functioning compared with family members of schizophrenic and bipolar patients. Family members of schizophrenic and depressed patients had more impaired family functioning in comparison with patients.

More negative perception in schizophrenic patients may be related to the nature of illness and their suspiciousness. Due to negative believes in depressed patients they ascribe family problems to themselves. In general, members of these 3 groups of disorders had more pathologic and more negative functioning compared with patients. That could be the result of presence of ill member and tense interactions in these families.