Expressed emotion in the relatives of people with epileptic or nonepileptic seizures.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated Expressed Emotion (EE) in relatives of people with epileptic or nonepileptic seizures (NES).


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, we used the Five-Minute Speech Sample to explore EE in the key relative of people with epilepsy (n = 36) and those with NESs (n = 21), as well as levels of anxiety and depression and use of coping strategies.


RESULTS
A significantly greater proportion of relatives of NES than epilepsy patients were rated as high EE. Hostility was evident in more high-EE epilepsy than high-EE NES relatives, whereas emotional overinvolvement and positive relationship ratings tended to be more common in high-EE NES relatives. High- and low-EE epilepsy relatives used problem-focused as opposed to emotion-focused coping strategies significantly more than half the time. High EE and seizure frequency were not associated. Age at onset of the disorder was higher in epilepsy patients with high- than with low-EE relatives.


CONCLUSIONS
Irrespective of etiology, carers for people with seizure disorders may find it hard to adjust to the difficulties these disorders create. Interventions that encourage problem-solving, reappraisals of "loss" and education regarding the causes of some of the patients' behavioral and mood problems seem likely to be beneficial.
Stanhope
Nicola
N
Institute of Psychiatry, London, England. n.stanhope@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Goldstein
Laura H
LH
Kuipers
Elizabeth
E
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role