Abstract
A meta-analysis is conducted to test the hypothesis that family interventions have a positive effect on the burden of relatives of psychiatric patients. An analysis of the 16 studies that were found, indicate that family interventions can have considerable effects on relatives' burden, psychological distress, the relationship between patient and relative and family functioning. Large effects are found in a subset of six studies. Interventions with more than 12 sessions have larger effects than shorter interventions. Several other success predictors can be hypothesised to be related to outcome.