Expressed emotion in individual and family settings: a comparative study.

Expressed emotion ratings were performed, in two separate settings, on the parents of 20 children suffering from anorexia nervosa. Ratings were made on conventional individual interviews and on videotapes of a family interview. Comparison of ratings in the two settings showed a very high correlation for 'critical comments'. Findings on the other scales were harder to interpret, but significant correlations as well as differences were noted. Expressed emotion rated in family interviews provides new possibilities for the study of families.