Abstract

REIS, Filipe Damas dos et al. Families expressed emotion and the treatment of chronic schizophrenics. Psicologia [online]. 2000, vol.14, n.1, pp.51-63. ISSN 0874-2049.

The authors study the clinical effects of neuroleptic treatment in 33 chronic schizophrenic patients. Patients' symptoms were evaluated with the PANSS, GAF and clinical global impression before and after a 12-month follow-up. The families' expressed emotions (EE) were evaluated by the Camberwell Family Interview. 20 families of the sample are high EE and 13 low EE. Comparing the patients clinical scores in this two families groups, the data show that patients living in low EE families have better results in PANSS positive symptoms and GAF scores than patients living in high EE families. These results are interpreted according the stress theory of psychophysiological activation (arousal). Patients living with higher EE relatives will be exposed to a higher stress than patients living with low EE relatives. The neuroleptic's pharmacological effects seem to be related with the EE of chronic schizophrenics' families in a follow-up of 12 month.

Keywords : Esquizofrenia; neurolépticos; emoção expressa.

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