Psychophysiological Responses of Schizophrenic Patients to High and Low Expressed Emotion Relatives

1981 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sturgeon ◽  
Liz Kuipers ◽  
Ruth Berkowitz ◽  
Graham Turpin ◽  
Julian Leff
Keyword(s):  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
Video Tape ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Spontaneous Fluctuation ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Spontaneous Fluctuations ◽  
Made In

SummaryMeasurements of spontaneous fluctuations in skin conductance in 20 acutely ill schizophrenic patients were made in a video-tape studio. Recordings were made initially with the patient talking to an interviewer, then during a video-taped interview conducted with the patient's key relative. The Expressed Emotion (EE) of the patient's key relative had been measured previously. Significant differences in the type of spontaneous fluctuation activity between patients who had low EE and high EE relatives were demonstrated when the relative was present, but not when the relative was absent. The findings were not related to phenothiazine medication.

The Relationship between Auditory Hallucinations and Spontaneous Fluctuations of Skin Conductance in Schizophrenia

1983 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Cooklin ◽  
David Sturgeon ◽  
Julian Leff
Keyword(s):  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Reasonable Agreement ◽  
Auditory Hallucinations ◽  
Video Tape ◽  
Fluctuation Rate ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Tape Record ◽  
Video Tape Record ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Spontaneous Fluctuations

SummaryA sample was collected of schizophrenic patients exhibiting nonverbal signs of intermittent auditory hallucinations. A video-tape record was made for each of a session, during which the patient's skin conductance was monitored. Independent raters achieved reasonable agreement on the onset of periods of hallucinatory activity, as judged from non-verbal signs. The skin conductance tracing was scored independently for spontaneous fluctuations. In the 10 patients with satisfactory records the onset of hallucinatory periods was significantly (P <0.01) associated with a rise in the spontaneous fluctuation rate.

Psychophysiological Assessment of Expressed Emotion in Schizophrenia: A Case Example

1984 ◽  
Vol 145 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Tarrier ◽  
Christine Barrowclough
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Activity ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
Skin Conductance Level ◽  
Personal Distress ◽  
Psychophysiological Response ◽  
Psychophysiological Assessment ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Case Assessment ◽  
Conductance Level

SummaryPrevious research has demonstrated a different psychophysiological response of schizophrenic patients depending on whether their key relative was rated high or low on Expressed Emotion (EE). A case assessment is described in which a young man suffering from schizophrenia, who lived with both a high EE and a low EE parent, was tested psychophysiologically in their presence using an ABAC design. The patient demonstrated a significantly higher amount of spontaneous activity in skin conductance level when the high EE parent was present. The high EE parent also demonstrated a greater perceived inability to cope, and a higher level of personal distress.

Skin conductance habituation during acute episodes of schizophrenia: qualitative differences from anxious and depressed patients

1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher D. Frith ◽  
Marilyn Stevens ◽  
Eve C. Johnstone ◽  
T. J. Crow
Keyword(s):  
Skin Conductance ◽  
The Other ◽  
Loud Tone ◽  
Response Frequency ◽  
Depressed Patients ◽  
Response Generalization ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Schizophrenic Group ◽  
Spontaneous Fluctuations ◽  
Sensitization Effect

SYNOPSISSkin conductance habituation was measured in schizophrenic patients (N = 41) during an acute episode and compared with neurotic patients (N = 86) who were either predominantly anxious or predominantly depressed. All patients were tested before the onset of drug treatment. Between the 14th and 15th tone of the 17 tone simple habituation series a loud ‘dishabituating’ tone was inserted.In terms of traditional measures based on response frequency, non-habituation was most frequent in the anxious patients and least frequent in the depressed patients, with schizophrenic patients being intermediate. However, in terms of response amplitude the schizophrenic patients showed significantly faster habituation than either neurotic group. This paradox seems to be a consequence of the frequency of spontaneous fluctuations which was highly related to habituation status in the schizophrenic group, but not in the neurotic groups. When habituation was defined in terms of response amplitudes falling below spontaneous fluctuation amplitudes (rather than zero) the schizophrenic group showed the lowest frequency of non-habituation.None of the groups showed any evidence of dishabituation after the loud tone, but the schizophrenics showed a significantly smaller response to the loud tone itself. Following Groves & Thompson (1970), this is interpreted as showing that the loud tone induced a greater response because of its perceived difference from the other tones rather than a sensitization effect because of its loudness. In these terms the schizophrenic patients showed greater response generalization than the neurotic patients.

Psychophysiological Responses of Schizophrenic Patients to High and Low Expressed Emotion Relatives: A Follow-up Study

1984 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sturgeon ◽  
Graham Turpin ◽  
Liz Kuipers ◽  
Ruth Berkowitz ◽  
Julian Leff
Keyword(s):  
Skin Conductance Response ◽  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
Social Intervention ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Social Interventions ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Relapse Rates

SummaryMeasurements of skin conductance response frequencies (SCRf) were obtained from 30 acutely ill schizophrenic patients during a standardised videotaped interview, conducted with the patient's key relative present. Significant differences in SCRf's were demonstrated between patients whose relatives had high and low Expressed Emotion (EE) respectively. Patients at high risk of relapse were allocated either to a control or an experimental group, the latter being offered a number of social interventions in order to reduce the relative's EE and/or contact with the patient. Follow-up measurements were obtained on 19 patients nine months after discharge. Although social intervention was highly successful in reducing relapse rates, its effects did not appear to be directly mediated via SCRf, which was found to be independently related to relapse.

The Assessment of Psychophysiological Reactivity to the Expressed Emotion of the Relatives of Schizophrenic Patients

1988 ◽  
Vol 152 (5) ◽  
pp. 618-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Tarrier ◽  
Christine Barrowclough ◽  
Kathleen Porceddu ◽  
Susan Watts
Keyword(s):  
Schizophrenic Patient ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Psychophysiological Reactivity ◽  
Skin Conductance Responses ◽  
Assessment Measure ◽  
Skin Conductance Levels ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Electrodermal Reactivity

The measure of expressed emotion (EE) of the relative has been found to be an important predictor of schizophrenic relapse. Electrodermal measures were recorded when the schizophrenic patient was talking to an experimenter, and when the patient was talking to a relative. Although there were no differences during the relative-absent period, patients with a high-EE relative present exhibited significantly higher frequencies of non-specific skin-conductance responses (NS-SCRs) than patients with a low-EE relative present. Patients show a significant decrease in NS-SCRs on the entry of low-EE, but not high-EE relatives. Patients with high-EE relatives show overall higher levels of skin-conductance levels (SCLs) than patients with low-EE relatives. Although patients with high-EE relatives rate themselves significantly more tense and anxious on self-rating scales, there are no significant correlations between self-ratings and electrodermal measures. The use of electrodermal reactivity as an assessment measure of relapse risk is discussed.

Appraisal, psychological adjustment and expressed emotion in relatives of patients suffering from schizophrenia

1997 ◽  
Vol 171 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Barrowclough ◽  
Michael Parle
Keyword(s):  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Primary Appraisal ◽  
Coping Theory ◽  
Secondary Appraisal ◽  
Multivariate Relationships ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Appraisal Processes

BackgroundIt is argued that coping theory may be useful in attempting to understand how relatives adapt to the demands of living with a schizophrenia sufferer.MethodIn a prospective study, univariate and multivariate relationships were explored between appraisal variables (appraisal of symptom threat (primary appraisal) and perceived symptom control (secondary appraisal)) and (a) expressed emotion, and (b) psychological distress in relatives of schizophrenic patients. The profile of relatives who showed sustained distress over time was also examined.ResultsThe appraisal variables were found to be related to both the concurrent distress (GHQ scores), EE ratings of relatives at the time of the patients relapse and hospitalisation, as well as the subsequent GHQ scores of relatives when the patient was discharged back home. Relatives who showed sustained distress were likely to show high EE and have a longer caring history.ConclusionsThe study gives some support to the theory that appraisal processes underlie how relatives react to having a family member with schizophrenia, and may have implications both for identifying those at risk of poor adaptation, and for understanding strategies that improve well-being.

Expressed emotion and relapse rates in schizophrenic patients

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-173
Author(s):  
R. Cohen ◽  
T. Niedermeier ◽  
H. Watzl
Keyword(s):  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Relapse Rates

The Nithsdale Schizophrenia Surveys. XI: Relatives' Expressed Emotion

1993 ◽  
Vol 162 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. McCreadie ◽  
L. J. Robertson ◽  
D. J. Hall ◽  
I. Berry
Keyword(s):  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
The Third ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Over Time

The level of expressed emotion (EE) in 32 relationships between relatives and schizophrenic patients was assessed on three separate occasions over five years. EE was high on all three occasions in 25% of relatives, low on all three in 38%, and fluctuating in 38%; that is, in the majority of relatives (63%) the level of EE was stable over time. Three relatives who had previously shown high EE had evidence of dementia at the time of the third assessment, and showed low EE. Fourteen patients relapsed at least once over five years; patients who relapsed were evenly spread throughout those living in a home in which EE was consistently high, consistently low, or fluctuating. However, patients living in low-EE homes who did relapse did so significantly less often than those who relapsed and were living in homes in which EE was high or fluctuating. At the time of relapse, EE was not consistently high, and some patients in consistently high-EE homes did not relapse at all over five years.

scholarly journals Factors associated with relapse of schizophrenia

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-63
Author(s):  
AKM Akramul Haque ◽  
AHM Kazi Mostofa Kamal ◽  
Zinat De Laila ◽  
Luna Laila ◽  
Helal Uddin Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric illness with high rate of relapse which is commonly associated with noncompliance of medicine, as well as stress and high expressed emotions. The objective of the study was to determine the factors of relapse among the schizophrenic patients attending in outpatient departments of three tertiary level psychiatric facilities in Bangladesh. This was a cross sectional study conducted from July, 2001 to June, 2002. Two hundred patients including both relapse and nonrelapse cases of schizophrenia and their key relatives were included by purposive sampling. The results showed no statistically significant difference in terms of relapse with age, sex, religion, residence, occupation and level of education (p>0.05), but statistically significant difference was found with marital status and economic status (p<0.01). The proportion of non-compliance was found to be 80% and 14%, of high expressed emotion was 17% and 2% and of the occurrence of stressful life events was 10% and 1% in relapse and non-relapse cases respectively which were statistically significant (p<0.001). The study indicated that stressful life events, high expressed emotion, and noncompliance with medication had a role in schizophrenic patients for its relapse.Bang J Psychiatry December 2015; 29(2): 59-63

Identification of Features Associated with Flying Phobia in Aircrew

1981 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. B. Aitken ◽  
J. A. Lister ◽  
C. J. Main
Keyword(s):  
Family History ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Matched Control ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychometric Tests ◽  
Matched Control Group ◽  
Spontaneous Fluctuation ◽  
History Of

SummaryThe psychological and physiological features of 20 aircrew consecutively referred for treatment of anxiety symptoms when flying were compared with a matched control group of uncomplaining aircrew. There were no significant differences between the two groups on psychometric tests of personality, though there were differences in skin conductance; the phobics had a higher rate of spontaneous fluctuation, and habituated less to a repeated auditory tone. More of the phobic group worried about their wives and acknowledged childhood and other adulthood phobias; more had a family history of an episode perhaps best described as flying trauma. Many were on an overseas posting when symptoms presented. These few features could correctly classify 85 per cent of the subjects into the phobic or control group. This type of ‘phobic aircrew index’ now requires to be validated prospectively for its predictive value.

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