INTRAFAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND THE COURSE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

This paper describes efforts to explicate the significance of schizoph renic patients' sub-clinical psychopathology (SCP) to affective attitu des expressed by relatives about these patients. Using data from two 1 0-minute interactions between patients and close relatives (usually pa rents), verbal and non-verbal behaviors were scored for signs of SCP b y the patient. Scores reflective of more overt signs of SCP were highl y related to relatives' expressed emotion status and their affective s tyle when interacting with the patient, suggesting that a complex tran sactional model best explains the connection between high EE status of a relative and the risk for patient relapse.