[Emotional expression: from research to psychosocial treatment]

Over a four year period, the Schizophrenia Research Association (A.R.S. - Associazione Ricerche sulla Schizofrenia) has drawn up a multi-dimensional plan of action for the families of schizophrenic subjects. The basic points of this plan revolve around advice to the family and group therapy for family members, split into "informative" and "relationship orientation" sessions. Conducting an assessment of Expressed Emotion on family members admitted to these groups, it was observed that their emotional make-up is very different from that of family members of schizophrenics selected on the basis of casual criteria. Therefore, we are proposing a strategy which takes into account the emotional make-up of the family member in dictating therapists' action in terms of each family member.