Relational Disorders

A relational problem is a situation in which two or more emotionally attached individuals (e.g., family members, romantic partners) engage in communication or behavior patterns that are destructive, unsatisfying, or both, to one or more of the individuals. Relational problems deserve clinical attention because, once initiated, they tend to be perpetuating and chronic. They also are frequently contemporaneous with or followed by other serious problems, such as individual symptoms in vulnerable members of the family (e.g., depression) or social unit dissolution (e.g., divorce). They may be diagnosed either in the presence or absence of individual mental disorders. This chapter provides a diagnostic description of relational disorders, their epidemiology, core constructs, and manifestations. Assessment, treatment, and mental/physical health comorbidities are then discussed. The chapter concludes with case illustrations of relational disorders in the context of both couples and families. Understanding and considering relational problems within a comprehensive treatment model allows for a fuller conceptualization of factors impacting the course and development of disorders and potential interventions to enhance the well-being and health of both individuals and families.