Examining for links between expressed emotion and EPI personality variables: can low EE be faked?

We investigated whether links exist between scores on the EPI personality measure (with its component neuroticism, extroversion and lie scales) and scores on the expressed emotion (EE) measures, the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI). CFI scale scores were not associated with scores on the EPI neuroticism and extroversion scales. By contrast, mothers who were designated "low EE" scored significantly higher on the EPI lie scale, suggesting that some may have "faked good" during EE family assessment. The capacity for response biases to influence the CFI and subsequent EE assignment is explored, and it is suggested that corrective strategies may be required to deal with such biases in predictive studies using the EE measure.