Impact of Caregivers' Expressed Emotion upon Schizophrenic Patients Relapsing

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the expressed emotions of family members toward the schizophrenic patients, and to estimate the relationship between treatment compliance, family monthly income, family size with, and the families expressed emotions with patients' relapse intensity.

Methodology: The study carried out on a purposive "non probability" sample of (100) schizophrenic patients and their family members were selected of Psychiatric Hospitals in Baghdad City. A questionnaire is constructed for the purpose of the present study of 42 items. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were determined through the review of a panel of experts and the pilot study respectively. Data were collected through the period of September 11^th 2011 to October 11^th 2011. It was analyzed through the descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, and mean of score) and inferential statistics.

Results: The results revealed that were a significant relationship was found in family expressed emotion with schizophrenic patient relapse intensity, family size, and monthly income.

Conclusions: The study concluded that caregiver's expressed emotions appear to have a strong effect on schizophrenic patient relapse intensity.

Recommendation: Family Educational programs about how to deal with schizophrenic patient's behavior should be implemented to increase their knowledge about schizophrenia and accepting to schizophrenic patients.