LINKS BETWEEN EXPRESSED EMOTION AND BURDEN OF CARE IN RELATIVES OF PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Background. Findings that the EE level of a relative may change over t ime support the idea that EE may represent the circumstances of the re lationship between patient and caregiver. The present study examines t o what extent EE levels in relatives are related to relatives' burden of care and their perceptions of patients' deficits in social role per formance. Method. Fifty patients recently admitted to hospital with DS M-III-R diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder were a ssessed for positive and negative symptoms. Fifty relatives who were l iving or were in close contact with these patients were interviewed fo r the assessment of EE and burden of care, and to provide information about patients' social role performance and social and behaviour probl ems. Results. High-EE relatives had considerably higher mean scores fo r burden of care than low-EE relatives (12.5 v. 6.8, respectively. P=0 .002), and perceived more deficits in patients' social functioning tha n low-EE relatives (means: 16.2 v. 6.9, respectively, P=0.004). The em ployment status of relatives was the only socio-demographic characteri stic of relatives and patients associated with EE levels, those who we re working being less likely to be high EE. Patients' psychopathology was not associated with EE levels and burden of care. Conclusions. Thi s study shows that EE and the burden of care are related. EE and burde n both measure aspects of the relationship between relatives and patie nts. These findings suggest that EE and burden of care are more depend ent on relatives' appraisal of the patient condition than on patients' actual deficits.