The 'identified patient' is the person in the family who:

• A. Initially seeks or is sent for treatment
• B. Is the primary breadwinner
• C. Is the youngest child
• D. Controls the family finances

Answer: (A)

In family therapy, the identified patient is the family member whom the group brings in for help because they believe that person is the source of the problem. This individual’s symptoms are what prompt seeking treatment, even though the underlying issues often involve patterns and dynamics within the whole family system. The therapist’s work centers on understanding how family roles, boundaries, and communication contribute to or maintain the presenting problem, rather than blaming one person. The other descriptions refer to roles or statuses (like who earns money, who is the youngest, or who handles finances) and do not define who becomes the focus of treatment in the identified-patient concept. So the best answer is the person who initially seeks or is sent for treatment.