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Psychophysiological Assessment of Expressed Emotion in Schizophrenia: A Case Example

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Nicholas Tarrier*
Affiliation:
Salford Health Authority, Prestwich Hospital, Manchester
Christine Barrowclough
Affiliation:
Salford Health Authority, Prestwich Hospital, Manchester
*
Correspondence.

Summary

Previous 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.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1984 

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