Psychiatry Research
Volume 117, Issue 3 , Pages 211-222, 25 March 2003

Determinants of expressed emotion in mothers of schizophrenia patients

  • Suzanne King

      Affiliations

    • McGill University & Douglas Hospital Research Center, 6875 LaSalle Blvd., Verdun, Quebec, Canada H4H 1R3
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: 514-761-6131; fax: +514-762-3049
    • ,
  • Nicole Ricard

      Affiliations

    • University of Montreal and Fernand-Seguin Research Center, Montreal, Canada
    • ,
  • Vicky Rochon

      Affiliations

    • University of Montreal and Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Canada
    • ,
  • Howard Steiger

      Affiliations

    • McGill University & Douglas Hospital Research Center, 6875 LaSalle Blvd., Verdun, Quebec, Canada H4H 1R3
    • ,
  • Sharon Nelis

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, University of Ulster at Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK

Received 16 November 2002; accepted 23 December 2002.

Abstract 

Our objectives were to determine the extent to which symptoms in the schizophrenia patient and personality in the mother lead to a sense of subjective burden in the mother, and to explain variance in two components of Expressed Emotion. Data on symptom severity (PANSS), mothers’ personality (NEO-PI), subjective burden (SBAS), and Expressed Emotion (CFI) were gathered from 41 schizophrenia outpatients and their mothers. Approximately one quarter of the variance in Critical Comments (CCs) and Emotional Overinvolvement (EOI) was explained using path analysis. Mothers’ CCs were associated with more severe excitement in the patient, with lower Neuroticism, and greater burden in the mother. Higher EOI was explained by greater Conscientiousness and burden in the mother; patient depression had a weak indirect effect on maternal EOI. These results characterize the high EE mother as low in neuroticism and high in conscientiousness with a particular sensitivity to excitement and depression in the patient.

Keywords: Family, Personality, Psychopathology

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0165-1781(03)00018-0

doi:10.1016/S0165-1781(03)00018-0

Psychiatry Research
Volume 117, Issue 3 , Pages 211-222, 25 March 2003

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution