The application of the concept of expressed emotion to the role of the community psychiatric nurse: a research study.

The previous article examined the development of the concept of 'expressed emotion', argued that controlled studies had successfully demonstrated the value of psychosocial intervention, but demonstrated that such a therapeutic approach had been mostly limited to the research studies themselves. In the light of the demonstrable efficacy of psychosocial intervention, the psychiatric nursing literature is reviewed in order to establish how far nurses have capitalized on the utility of the 'expressed emotion' concept, to date, in their work with schizophrenic clients and their families. In addition, a brief historical overview of the Community Psychiatric Nurses' (CPNs) role with schizophrenic clients is presented which relates to current ongoing research in this area which is described. In brief, the research project, which is funded by the Department of Health, is evaluating the outcome of teaching CPNs to deliver psychosocial interventions to families caring for a schizophrenic relative at home.