title: Patterns and correlates of expressed emotion, perceived criticism, and rearing style in first admitted early-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess patterns and correlates of family variables in 31 adolescents treated for their first episode of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (early-onset schizophrenia [EOS]). Expressed emotion, perceived criticism, and rearing style were assessed. Potential correlates were patient psychopathology, premorbid adjustment, illness duration, quality of life (QoL), sociodemographic variables, patient and caregiver "illness concept," and caregiver personality traits and support. Families were rated as critical more frequently by patients than raters (55% vs. 13%). Perceived criticism was associated with worse QoL in relationship with parents and peers. An adverse rearing style was associated with a negative illness concept in patients, particularly with less trust in their physician. Future research should examine perceived criticism as a predictor of relapse and indicator of adolescents with EOS who need extended support and treatment. Rearing style should be carefully observed because of its link with patients' illness concept and, potentially, to service engagement and medication adherence.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; †Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; ‡Psychosis Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; §Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, St Gallen, Switzerland; ∥University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; ¶Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; #Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Olgahospital, Stuttgart, Germany; **Department of Psychiatry, Asklepios Clinical Center West, Hamburg, Germany; ††Center for Family Counceling and School Psychology, Allschwil/Basel, Switzerland; ‡‡Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; and §§Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Georg G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: von Polier
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zarotti
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karle
authors.forename: Reinmar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Fritz-Michael
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neidhart
authors.forename: Ruedi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zollinger
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bürgin
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Felder
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.forename: Eginhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulte-Markwort
authors.forename: Benno G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Schimmelmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology