Codependency: a family addiction.
Codependency is a common and treatable family-system illness that develops in reaction to the stress of addiction or another "shameful secret" in a family member. This stressful environment induces emotional changes in each family member and creates a variety of pathologic family roles. For the family physician, brief therapy for the codependent family can be visibly effective when combined with follow-up and referral to resources such as Al-Anon family groups.
D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D005190:Family; D005196:Family Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010821:Physicians, Family; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy