EMOTIONAL OVERINVOLVEMENT IN PARENTS OF PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA OR RELATED PSYCHOSIS - DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL PREDICTORS

Background. Parental emotional overinvolvement (EOI) may entail a wors e outcome in schizophrenia. In the present study we examined demograph ic and clinical predictors of EOI. Method. The predictors were examine d in a Norwegian sample of 41 recently admitted patients (schizophreni a or schizophreniform disorder) and 66 parents. Parents' expressed emo tion was assessed by the Camberwell Family Interview. Results. Regress ion analyses showed that higher EOI was significantly related, on the part of the parent, to being a mother, single, spending more time with the patient; and, on the part of the patient, to no substance misuse, more anxiety-depression, and less uncritical and aggressive behaviour . EOI was not linked to previous hospital admissions. Conclusion. Our analyses indicate that characteristics of the parent and of the parent -patient dyad seem to be the most important determinants of EOI. EOI i s probably not linked to psychotic relapse, but rather to affective di sturbances in the patient.