title: [Etiology of schizophrenia from the viewpoint of family].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In a former quantitative study on relatives' beliefs about the causes of functional psychoses a preference for psychosocial explanations was found. There were also indications of an inclination towards a multicausal concept. The aim of this study is to try to replicate these findings using semi-qualitative methods. In addition, we are interested in knowing to what extent the causal beliefs of relatives are similar to those of the patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Problem-centered interviews were conducted with 31 relatives of schizophrenic patients. A computer-assisted qualitative content analysis was carried out with the transcripts of the interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As in the previous study, relatives showed a strong propendency to endorse psychosocial explanations. However, among only one third a multicausal concept could be observed. The causal beliefs of relatives and patients were quite similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings are discussed with reference to the concept of subjective illness theory and the concept of social representations.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Universität Leipzig.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holzinger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Priebe
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Angermeyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000209:etiology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological