Predicting expressed emotion: A study with families of obsessive-compulsive and agoraphobic outpatients

The authors used structural equation modeling to examine expressed emotion (EE) in relatives of outpatients with panic disorder with agoraphobia (n = 42) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (n = 60). EE was examined as a functio n of patients' illness and personality and as a function of characteristics of relatives themselves. EE was operationalized in terms of hostility on t he Camberwell Family Interview (C. E. Vaughn & J. P. Leff, 1976) and patien ts' ratings of their relatives' criticism (perceived criticism). Key findin gs include the identification of a characteristic of the relative (self-rep orted angry thoughts, feelings, and behaviors) that is directly linked to b oth hostility toward the patient and to perceived criticism, as well as a d irect path between relatives' low rates of observed problem solving and the ir hostility toward the patient. Patient Pathology predicted perceived crit icism but not observer-rated hostility.