EXPRESSED EMOTION, COMMUNICATION DEVIANCE AND SCHIZOPHRENIA

The relationship between expressed emotion (EE) and communication devi ance (CD), and outcome in a group of early-onset schizophrenics after 2 years of psychoeducational treatment was examined. Patients' parents were assessed on EE and CD before and after the 2-year period. Outcom e was measured by Global Assessment Scale (GAS) and relapse rate. Resu lts showed that the correlation between CD and outcome was higher than between EE and outcome. In most of the patients who improved their GA S score during the treatment programme, their parents changed from hig h to low EE. CD proved to be more resistant to psychosocial interventi on than EE.