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Expressed emotion and locus of control
1Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 01238, USA.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|July 8, 1998
Summary
High criticism from relatives predicts psychiatric relapse. This study found highly critical relatives of schizophrenia patients believe they have more control over problem situations than low-critical relatives do.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Expressed emotion (EE) is a significant predictor of psychiatric relapse across various diagnoses.
- Theoretical models suggest high criticism within EE may relate to beliefs about a patient's symptom control.
- However, relatives' beliefs about their own control over problem situations remain under-examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between relatives' criticism levels and their locus of control.
- To compare high- and low-critical relatives of schizophrenia patients on locus of control measures.
- To explore relatives' beliefs about their own ability to manage problem situations.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study design.
- Involved relatives of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.
- Utilized a locus of control measure to assess perceived personal control.
Main Results:
- High-critical relatives demonstrated a more internal locus of control.
- Low-critical relatives exhibited a more external locus of control.
- Findings support the prediction linking criticism levels to perceived personal control.
Conclusions:
- Relatives' perceived control over problem situations may be linked to their expressed emotion levels.
- Internal locus of control in high-critical relatives could influence their critical interactions.
- Further research into relatives' attributions is warranted for understanding relapse dynamics.