| Abstract: | Measures of intrafamilial expressed emotion (EE) have been found to predict relapse in schizophrenic patients, but the relationship between EE and other prognostic indicators has not been fully determined. In the present study, 42 18–41 yr old recently episodic schizophrenic patients from high- and low-EE homes were contrasted on a battery of symptomatology and social adjustment measures (e.g., Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Hopkins Symptom Checklist), which were administered during the hospitalization period and shortly after discharge. In addition, because the high-EE designation is based on the presence of either parental criticism, emotional overinvolvement, or both attributes, Ss from high-EE subgroups were contrasted as well. Results indicate that high- and low-EE Ss were indiscriminable on measures of symptomatology and social adjustment. However, when the high-EE group was divided into subtypes, notable intergroup differences emerged: Ss from emotionally overinvolved families were characterized by poorer premorbid adjustment and greater residual symptomatology at discharge than Ss from critical families. The implications of these findings for the predictive utility of the EE construct and other prognostic indicators are discussed. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
