ABSTRACT
A family atmosphere characterized by expressed emotion (EE) is a robust predictor of clinical outcome of patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders. However, there is ongoing discussion as to whether EE is more a cause of clinical outcome or a parental reaction to disorder severity. This cross-sectional study examines a sample of 42 consecutive first-episode patients from a defined geographical area with severe mental disorders (schizophrenia-related disorders, psychotic mood disorders, and non-psychotic mood disorders). Their 42 relatives were interviewed, and the relationships between EE variables derived with the five-minute speech sample method (FMSS) and the patients' demographic, premorbid and clinical measures were analyzed. A high EE score was found in 40% of the relatives. High EE was associated with the interviewed relative's not being a spouse and the patient's being young and unmarried. It was not associated with premorbid characteristics, symptom dimensions or the diagnostic group of the patient. These results do not support the hypothesis that EE is a reaction to the clinical features of the patient. Instead, demographic factors may partly mediate the effect of EE on prognosis.
Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/diagnosis , Caregivers/psychology , Depressive Disorder, Major/diagnosis , Expressed Emotion , Psychotic Disorders/diagnosis , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Schizophrenic Psychology , Adult , Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Female , Humans , International Classification of Diseases , Interview, Psychological , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Factors associated with low self-esteem in non-depressive subjects increase the individual's vulnerability to depression (causal risk factors), and factors correlated to low self-esteem in depressive subjects make the current disorder more severe (pathoplastic risk factors). Using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Depression Scale we intended to explore correlates of low self-esteem in non-depressive and depressive subjects in a random sample of 1643 individuals attending community health centres in Central Finland. According to our study, self-esteem in non-depressive men was affected mainly by poor socioeconomic situation; in depressive men particularly low self-esteem was associated with negative family factors. Low self-esteem in non-depressive women was correlated to poor socioeconomic situation, poor health, and negative family factors. In depressive women self-esteem was affected by poor physical and poor mental health. Taking into consideration causal and pathoplastic risk factors, general practitioners can improve recognition of depression. By paying attention to pathoplastic factors, it is possible to improve detection of more severe forms of depression.
