Preventing the Entrenchment of High Expressed Emotion in First Episode Psychosis: Early Developmental Attachment Pathways

2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. A191-A197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Patterson ◽  
Max Birchwood ◽  
Ray Cochrane
Keyword(s):  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Family Intervention ◽  
First Episode Psychosis ◽  
Early Ontogeny ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Episode Psychosis ◽  
Early Developmental ◽  
Stable Index

Objective As part of a strategy to consider the options for preventing the developmental entrenchment of expressed emotion (EE), we examine the early ontogeny of EE in a first-episode sample of individuals with psychosis and its links with the process of adaptation to change. Methods The key relatives of 50 first-episode psychosis patients from two locations were interviewed soon after patient referral and again 9 months later using measures of expressed emotion and loss. Results The developmental pathways of components of expressed emotion, particularly criticism and emotional over-involvement, were independent despite having a similar effect on outcome for patients. Initially, high levels of emotional over-involvement were reduced by follow up, with 37% resolving into high criticism. Overall expressed emotion status changed in 28.2% of key relatives (all parental), predominantly from high to low. High emotional over-involvement and low criticism are associated with significantly high levels of perceived loss in relatives. The metamorphosis of emotional over-involvement to criticism was linked to a reduction in perceived loss. Conclusions Expressed emotion is not a stable index in relatives of first-episode psychosis samples. Appraisals of loss by relatives may be driving high emotional over-involvement with implications for family intervention programs. Attachment theory may help to explain some of the processes underlying resistance to change in some of the high-EE behaviours measured by expressed emotion.

scholarly journals Expressed emotion as an adaptation to loss

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (S48) ◽  
pp. s59-s64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Patterson ◽  
Max Birchwood ◽  
Ray Cochrane
Keyword(s):  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
Family Intervention ◽  
First Episode Psychosis ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Duration Of Untreated Psychosis ◽  
Subjective Burden ◽  
Episode Psychosis ◽  
Adaptive Reactions

BackgroundThe factors influencing the development of expressed emotion (EE) are still unclear. Understanding the carer and patient appraisals operating during the initial adaptation to psychosis may help to clarify the early ontogenesis of EE.MethodFifty patients and key carers were followed-up over 9 months and their appraisals of loss and burden were measured in relation to the evolution of high emotional overinvolvement (EOI) and critical (CC) relationships.ResultsThe appraisal of loss was linked to high EOI but not high CC relationships at baseline. Loss reduced by 9-month follow-up in those changing from high EOI to high CC or low EE. Subjective burden of carers was linked to loss but not to EE status. Patients' and relatives' appraisals of loss were strongly correlated, particularly in high EOI relationships. Longer duration of untreated psychosis was associated with high CC.ConclusionsThe results are consistent with Bowlby's attachment theory, where EOI and coercive criticism maybe understood as adaptive reactions to perceived loss. Implications for family intervention in first-episode psychosis and the prevention of high EE are discussed.

Longitudinal relationship between expressed emotion and cannabis misuse in young people with first-episode psychosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. González-Blanch ◽  
J.F. Gleeson ◽  
S.M. Cotton ◽  
K. Crisp ◽  
P.D. McGorry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Temporal Relationship ◽  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
First Episode Psychosis ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Episode Psychosis ◽  
Substance Involvement ◽  
Over Time

AbstractCarers’ expressed emotion (EE) and patients’ cannabis misuse are two of the most robust predictors of psychotic relapse. We aimed to examine the temporal relationship between EE and cannabis misuse. Sixty-three key carers of young people with first-episode psychosis (FEP) were assessed at baseline and 7-month follow-up. EE was measured in carers using the Family Questionnaire (FQ) and cannabis misuse in patients using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Correlational and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the temporal relationship between EE components (i.e. criticism and emotional over involvement) and cannabis misuse. Carers’ criticism at baseline significantly predicted cannabis misuse according to the ASSIST at 7-month follow-up. The association remained significant after controlling for baseline symptom severity and social functioning (B = 0.15, P = .02). Conversely, baseline cannabis misuse was not associated with carers’ criticism at 7-month follow-up. Patients in families with high criticism showed a tendency to increase cannabis misuse over time whereas the opposite trend was observed in those with carers with low criticism. A family environment characterized by high criticism may become a key risk factor for worsening cannabis misuse over time in young people with FEP. Further studies should investigate the potential mechanisms (e.g., patient's anxiety or perceived stress) through which criticism increases cannabis misuse in FEP.

Retrospective study of first episode psychosis in the Dublin Southwest Mental Health Service: demographics, clinical profile and service evaluation of treatment

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.-M. Clarke ◽  
P. McLaughlin ◽  
J. Staunton ◽  
K. Kerins ◽  
B. Power ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Family Intervention ◽  
First Episode Psychosis ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Duration Of Untreated Psychosis ◽  
Episode Psychosis ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Healthcare Monitoring

ObjectiveIn Ireland, National Clinical Programmes are being established to improve and standardise patient care throughout the Health Service Executive. In line with internationally recognised guidelines on the treatment of first episode psychosis the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) programme is being drafted with a view to implementation by mental health services across the country. We undertook a review of patients presenting with a first episode of psychosis to the Dublin Southwest Mental Health Service before the implementation of the EIP. This baseline information will be used to measure the efficacy of our EIP programme.MethodsPatients who presented with a first episode psychosis were retrospectively identified through case note reviews and consultation with treating teams. We gathered demographic and clinical information from patients as well as data on treatment provision over a 2-year period from the time of first presentation. Data included age at first presentation, duration of untreated psychosis, diagnosis, referral source, antipsychotic prescribing rates and dosing, rates of provision of psychological interventions and standards of physical healthcare monitoring. Outcome measures with regards to rates of admission over a 2-year period following initial presentation were also recorded.ResultsIn total, 66 cases were identified. The majority were male, single, unemployed and living with their family or spouse. The mean age at first presentation was 31 years with a mean duration of untreated psychosis of 17 months. Just under one-third were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Approximately half of the patients had no contact with a health service before presentation. The majority of patients presented through the emergency department. Two-thirds of all patients had a hospital admission within 2 years of presentation and almost one quarter of patients had an involuntary admission. The majority of patients were prescribed antipsychotic doses within recommended British National Formulary guidelines. Most patients received individual support through their keyworker and family intervention was provided in the majority of cases. Only a small number received formal Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy. Physical healthcare monitoring was insufficiently recorded in the majority of patients.ConclusionsThere is a shortage of information on the profile and treatment of patients presenting with a first episode of psychosis in Ireland. This baseline information is important in evaluating the efficacy of any new programme for this patient group. Many aspects of good practice were identified within the service in particular with regards to the appropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medication and the rates of family intervention. Deficiencies remain however in the monitoring of physical health and the provision of formal psychological interventions to patients. With the implementation of an EIP programme it is hoped that service provision would improve nationwide and to internationally recognised standards.

scholarly journals Patterns and predictors of hospitalisation in first-episode psychosis

2001 ◽  
Vol 178 (6) ◽  
pp. 518-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Attila Sipos ◽  
Glynn Harrison ◽  
David Gunnell ◽  
Shazad Amin ◽  
Swaran P. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
First Episode Psychosis ◽  
Psychiatric Services ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Psychotic Episode ◽  
Duration Of Untreated Illness ◽  
Specialist Services ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Episode Psychosis

BackgroundLittle is known about predictors of hospitalisation in patients with first-episode psychosis.AimsTo identify the pattern and predictors of hospitalisation of patients with a first psychotic episode making their first contact with specialist services.MethodThree-year follow-up of a cohort of 166 patients with a first episode of psychosis making contact with psychiatric services in Nottingham between June 1992 and May 1994.ResultsEighty-eight (53.0%) patients were admitted within 1 week of presentation; 32 (19.3%) were never admitted during the 3 years of follow-up. Manic symptoms at presentation were associated with an increased risk of rapid admission and an increased overall risk of admission; negative symptoms and a longer duration of untreated illness had an increased risk of late admission.ConclusionsCommunity-oriented psychiatric services might only delay, rather than prevent, admission of patients with predominantly negative symptoms and a longer duration of untreated illness. First-episode studies based upon first admissions are likely to be subject to selection biases, which may limit their representativeness.

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