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 function of patients' illness and personality and as a function of characteristics of relatives themselves. EE was operationalized in terms of hostility on the Camberwell Family Interview (C. E. Vaughn & J. P. Leff, 1976) and patients' ratings of their relatives' criticism (perceived criticism). Key findings include the identification of a characteristic of the relative (self-reported angry thoughts, feelings, and behaviors) that is directly linked to both hostility toward the patient and to perceived criticism, as well as a direct path between relatives' low rates of observed problem solving and their hostility toward the patient. Patient Pathology predicted perceived criticism but not observer-rated hostility.
Chambless
D L
DL
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3270, USA. chambles@email.unc.edu
Bryan
A D
AD
Aiken
L S
LS
Steketee
G
G
Hooley
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies