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Expressed and Perceived Criticism, Family Warmth, and Symptoms in Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2013

Cristina Medina-Pradas ,
J. Blas Navarro ,
Esther Pousa ,
M. Isabel Montero  and
Jordi E. Obiols
Cristina Medina-Pradas*
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (Spain)
J. Blas Navarro
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (Spain)
Esther Pousa
Affiliation:
Corporación socio-sanitaria Parc Taulí (Spain).
M. Isabel Montero
Affiliation:
Universitat de Valencia (Spain)
Jordi E. Obiols
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Cristina Medina-Pradas. Departamento de Psicología Clínica y de la Salud. Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. 08193. Barcelona (Spain). Phone: +34-935868528. Fax: +34-935812125. E-mail: cristina.medina.pradas@gmail.com
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Abstract

Criticism directed by caregivers towards a family member with schizophrenia, both from the perspective of the patient and of the caregiver, predicts relapse, although both perspectives differ. This study aims to verify if the same applies to a Mediterranean sample, where criticism is not the main attitude of high expressed emotion families. The Camberwell Family Interview was applied to assess the family’s perspective, and the Perceived Criticism and the Family Emotional Involvement and Criticism Scales were used to assess the patients’ perspective, in 21 dyads. The association between both perspectives and psychotic symptoms was also examined. Results replicated those of previous studies in other countries, revealing that the perspectives on Criticism of patients and families do not match. The fact that family members also presented positive attitudes towards the patient did not cushion the patient’s perceived criticism. Thus, it seems that families considered to be critical may not be perceived as such by the patients. Furthermore, only the warmth from the family’s perspective correlated with the symptoms: positive affect proved to be more relevant than negative affect. Therefore, the patients’ subjective assessments and family warmth should be included in clinical and research proposals.

Keywords

expressed emotionperceptioncriticismwarmthschizophrenia
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 16 , 2013 , E45
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2013 

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Footnotes

We are very grateful to all the persons who participated in the study and to the clinical team in Parc Taulí Hospital who provided access to their clients. This study was supported by a predoctoral fellowship to the first author (Science and Innovation Ministry I+D, Code BSO2003-05561/ PSCE). Special thanks go to Prof. Kuipers and Prof. López for their helpful comments on different stages of this project

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