Family interactions and the course of schizophrenia in African American and White patients.
Relatives' critical and intrusive behavior with patients, patients' odd or unusual thinking with relatives, and the course of schizophrenia were examined. Seventy-one African American and White patients (each with 1 relative) completed 2 problem-solving discussions. Relatives' critical and intrusive behavior with patients and patients' odd or unusual thinking with relatives were assessed, and patients were followed for 2 years. For African American patients, high levels of relatives' critical and intrusive behavior were associated with better outcome. For White patients, low levels of both relatives' critical and intrusive behavior and patients' odd or unusual thinking with relatives were associated with better outcome. The results suggest that during family interactions, seemingly negative behaviors may be perceived as a sign of caring and concern by African Americans. For Whites, the combination of patients' odd or unusual thinking with relatives and relatives' critical and intrusive behavior toward patients may be especially predictive of an adverse course.
California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA 92131, USA. irosenfa@alliant.edu
Irwin S
IS
Rosenfarb
Alan S
AS
Bellack
Nahid
N
Aziz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*