Validation of Family Interaction Patterns Scale

A Family Interaction Patterns Scale (FIPS) consisting of 106 items pertaining to six areas of family functioning: leadership, communication, role, reinforcement, cohesiveness, social support system; was standardised by administering it to 30 neurotic depressives, 30 hysterical neurotics, 20 alcoholics and 30 normal, and one of their family members. HIPS mean score for depressives, hystericals, alcoholics and normals were 243.8, 236.67, 262.75 and 133.17 respectively. The means of patient population were statistically significantly different from the normal population. There was no variation in the scores of patient and his/her family member. All six sub scales of FIPS were compared between the groups. The scale had the capacity to discriminate between neurotics and normals and alcoholics. Based on these observations we feel FIPS is a valid tool to measure the quality of family functioning.