School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2012;22(3):374-90. doi: 10.1080/09602011.2011.648757. Epub 2012 Jan 31.
Levels of expressed emotion (EE) within the family, particularly criticism and emotional over-involvement, are associated with a patient's psychological outcome in a range of psychiatric and medical conditions. This study aimed to examine the relationship between levels of family EE and anxiety and depression in patients who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A further aim was to examine whether family members' levels of psychological distress and attributions of patient symptom controllability, were related to their levels of patient-directed EE. Participants were 43 patients who had sustained a complicated mild to severe TBI three months to five years previously, and their nominated family members. Results indicated that family members' criticism and emotional over-involvement were associated with patients' levels of anxiety and depression. Moreover, family members' levels of anxiety and depression were associated with their levels of patient-directed criticism and emotional over-involvement, whilst their attributions of patient symptom control were not. These findings suggest that levels of EE within the family are associated with psychological adjustment following TBI. Consequently, interventions targeting EE in family members may help to reduce psychiatric difficulties following TBI.
家庭中表达的情绪（EE）水平，特别是批评和情感过度卷入，与一系列精神和医学状况下患者的心理结果有关。本研究旨在探讨在创伤性脑损伤（TBI）患者中，家庭 EE 水平与焦虑和抑郁之间的关系。另一个目的是研究家庭成员的心理困扰程度以及对患者症状控制能力的归因是否与他们对患者的定向 EE 水平有关。参与者是 43 名在三到五年前遭受复杂轻度至重度 TBI 的患者及其指定的家庭成员。结果表明，家庭成员的批评和情感过度卷入与患者的焦虑和抑郁水平有关。此外，家庭成员的焦虑和抑郁水平与他们对患者的定向批评和情感过度卷入水平有关，而他们对患者症状控制的归因则没有。这些发现表明，家庭中的 EE 水平与 TBI 后的心理适应有关。因此，针对家庭成员的 EE 进行干预可能有助于减少 TBI 后的精神困难。
