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Expressed emotion and the course of schizophrenia in Pakistan

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Abstract

Purpose

Aim of the study is to evaluate the predictive power of Expressed Emotion in Schizophrenia relapse in Pakistan.

Method

A longitudinal study was conducted comprising 53 in-patients’ sample diagnosed with Schizophrenia and their 101 key carers. Participants fulfilled DSM-IV-TR criteria for Schizophrenia based on Structural Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV diagnosis. Symptomatic status was measured through Brief Psychiatric Rating Scales-Expanded (BPRS-E). Caregivers’ level of EE was assessed through Camberwell Family Interview (CFI). Patients were followed up for 9 months after hospital discharge.

Results

Relapse rate for patients with high-EE household was 72% as compared with 36% in the low-EE household. Logistic Regression showed a positive relationship between high-EE and relapse (CI 0.06–0.80; p < 0.05). Both hostility and critical comments emerged as significant predictors of relapse. The odds ratio showed that a one unit increase in caregivers’ score on the CCs and hostility scales were associated with a 1.29 (CI 1.06–1.56; p < 0.05) and 1.89 (CI 1.14–3.13; p < 0.05) times increased rate of relapse, respectively. Conversely, a non-significant relationship was observed between EOI and relapse.

Conclusions

The findings from this study confirmed the validity of EE construct in predicting schizophrenia relapse in a Pakistani sample. However, medication compliance has not been experimentally controlled and that is one of the limitations of the study.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan

    Sarosh Sadiq

  2. Surrey Mental Health and Substance Use Services, Station Tower, Surrey, Canada

    Kausar Suhail

  3. Department of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia

    John Gleeson

  4. ORYGEN Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Mario Alvarez-Jimenez

Authors
  1. Sarosh Sadiq
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  2. Kausar Suhail
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  3. John Gleeson
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  4. Mario Alvarez-Jimenez
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Correspondence to Sarosh Sadiq.

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Sadiq, S., Suhail, K., Gleeson, J. et al. Expressed emotion and the course of schizophrenia in Pakistan. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 52, 587–593 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1357-1

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