ABSTRACT
Family interactive patterns were investigated in the relatives of 20 mentally retarded patients institutionalised in two centres in Northern Italy. Expressed emotion (EE) was used as evaluation instrument. The results show a surprisingly high rate (45%) of high EE, even in relatives of patients who did not live inside the family. High EE was positively correlated to the presence of behavioral disorders in the patients, as already shown for children with conduct disorders. Treatment implications are discussed; there is an opportunity for the implementation of a family psychoeducational approach, aimed both at managing the behavioural consequences of the disorder and at enhancing rehabilitation programmes.
Subject(s)
Expressed Emotion , Family/psychology , Institutionalization , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Adaptation, Psychological , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/rehabilitation , Male , Middle Aged , Personality Assessment , Social Behavior Disorders/psychology , Social Behavior Disorders/rehabilitationABSTRACT
The authors present data from an experimental study conducted on 20 institutionalized mentally handicapped adult patients. Relevant family variables were investigated by means of the Expressed Emotion (EE) scales, then compared with similar variables obtained in a matched sample of 20 schizophrenic patients and their families. Results show, in relatives of mentally handicapped patients, a higher rate of Warmth than in relatives of schizophrenics (p = 0.009), while other EE scales appear to reach similar values in both groups. Within the mentally handicapped family group, a higher rate of Emotional Over-involvement (p = 0.046) is shown by relatives of patients treated with neuroleptic drugs. The presence of high Warmth and Emotional Over-involvement, together with low Criticism and Hostility, may be interpreted as adaptation by the families to an organic disease with very early onset, clearer ad less rejecting than schizophrenia.
