EXPRESSED EMOTION TOWARD CHILDREN WITH BEHAVIORAL-INHIBITION - ASSOCIATIONS WITH MATERNAL ANXIETY DISORDER

Objective: To examine the role of maternal psychopathology in influenc ing ''expressed emotion'' (EE) directed toward children with behaviora l inhibition (BI) or psychiatric disorders. Method: Maternal EE was as sessed via Five-Minute-Speech-Sample in two samples of children previo usly evaluated for child and maternal lifetime prevalence of DSM-III d isorders and assessed via laboratory observations for BI. The authors previously reported that maternal EE was associated with BI and with t he number of child behavior and mood disorders in these samples. The a t-risk sample (N = 30) consisted of mothers with panic disorder and ps ychiatric controls and their 4- through 10-year-old children, The Kaga n sample (N = 41) consisted of children selected at age 21 months as B I or uninhibited and followed through age 11. Results: Interaction eff ects were found: In mothers with anxiety disorders, but not those with out, maternal criticism (a component of EE) was significantly associat ed with child BI, independently of the child's number of disorders. Si milarly, in mothers with anxiety disorders only, maternal criticism wa s significantly associated with a high number of child disorders. Conc lusions: The relationships between mothers who have anxiety disorders and their children who have BI or psychiatric disorders may be marked by criticism or dissatisfaction. If confirmed, these findings offer op portunities for appropriate interventions.