Abstract
Objective:
The first aim of this work was to examine whether high expressed emotion (EE) would be associated with psychological distress and negative appraisal of caregiving. The second aim was to examine whether could replicate the findings of (Uehara et al., Compr Psychiatr, 42, 132โ138, 2001) regarding a reduction in EE in association with a psychoโeducational intervention.
Method:
A prospective exploratory followโup assessment of 47 caregivers in which EE was measured by Five Minutes Speech Sample, Experience of Caregiving Inventory and General Health Questionnaire (GHQโ12).
Results:
High EE ratings were found in 26/47 (55%) carers at baseline. The high EE group had a higher negative aspects of caregiving (high EE = 109.8 vs. low EE = 93.7, p = 0.04). The number of carers with highโEE fell from 55% to 24% after intervention, and remained below at followโup. The levels of distress and caregiving burden of the caregivers were also reduced.
Discussion:
Fiftyโfive percent of the caregivers have high EE. HighโEE relatives noted a higher caregiving burden than lowโEE relatives particularly on the โdimension of lossโ. The level of EE was reduced following a skills training program. ยฉ 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2010;)