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Title: Expressed emotion, perceived criticism and 10-year outcome of depression
Author: # Klaus-Thomas Kronmüller Affiliations * Department of Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Germany * Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Voβstraβe 4, D-69115 Heidelberg, Germany. Tel.: +49 6221 5632747; fax: +49 6221 565477. email address # , Matthias Backenstrass Affiliations * Department of Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Germany # , Daniela Victor Affiliations * Department of Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Germany # , Ilinca Postelnicu Affiliations * Department of Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Germany # , Caroline Schenkenbach Affiliations * Department of Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Germany # , Katharina Joest Affiliations * Department of Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Germany # , Peter Fiedler Affiliations * Department of Psychology, University of Heidelberg, Germany # , Christoph Mundt
Abstract:
Outcome studies of patients suffering from depression indicate a high relapse rate and a tendency towards chronicity. A family atmosphere characterised by expressed emotion (EE) and perceived criticism (PC) was reported to be a robust predictor of outcome in affective disorders. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between EE, PC and long-term outcome of depression. Fifty inpatients with major depression were followed up 1, 2 and 10 years after discharge from the hospital. After 10 years, 26 patients (56.5%) had at least one recurrence. Spousal EE, assessed with the Five-Minute Speech Sample (FMSS), and the Perceived Criticism Index (PCI) were not significant prognostic factors for depression outcome. The significance of EE and PC for the long-term course of depression has to be questioned. The findings indicate a need to examine factors that may partly mediate the effect of EE and PC on the outcome of depression.
Journal: Psychiatry Research Volume 159, Issue 1 , Pages 50-55, 30 May 2008