Paolo Bertrando

The Efficacy of an Information Group Intervention On Relatives of Schizophrenics

Socio-therapy of schizophrenia cannot fail to consider such an important element as assistance to relatives. This report will review the main treatment methods used today and presents an intervention model which acts on the family of the schizophrenic at different levels. While the schizophrenic patient receives an individual treatment (pharmacological and psychotherapeutic), his/her relatives undergo a two-step group intervention. The first phase concerns an information group. This paper gives an early assessment as to the efficacy of the information groups for relatives. Particularly, it focuses on the actual ability of the group in conveying information to relatives. Such transfer of information is measured by means of a structured interview (Knowledge Interview). Results demonstrate that after an information group family members had a significant statistical increase of their information level (p<0.001). Some areas recorded a considerable increase in the knowledge levels, as far as the legitimacy of the illness and the management of symptoms are concerned.

Family Adaptation to Institutionalised Mentally Retarded Patients. A Preliminary Report on an Italian Population

Family interactive patterns were investigated in the relatives of 20 mentally retarded patients institutionalised in two centres in Northern Italy. Expressed emotion (EE) was used as evaluation instrument. The results show a surprisingly high rate (45%) of high EE, even in relatives of patients who did not live inside the family. High EE was positively correlated to the presence of behavioural disorders in the patients, as already shown for children with conduct disorders. Treatment implications are discussed; there is an opportunity for the implementation of a family psychoeduca tional approach, aimed both at managing the behavioural consequences of the disorder and at enhancing rehabilitation programmes.

Family assessment and linguistic interaction: analysis of the Camberwell Family Interview.

Expressed Emotion (EE) is a form of assessment of the family environment: it is highly reliable and has proved to be predictive for symptomatologic relapse with schizophrenic subjects. Rating is obtained by offering to relatives living with the schizophrenic patient a structured interview, the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI). In the present study we will undertake a linguistic analysis (with quantitative and semantic evaluation) of 16 CFI, in order to detect communication parameters likely to be correlated with basic EE categories (high and low EE). The results obtained demonstrate that high EE relatives show a more immediate response style and a greater amount of speech. Moreover, these subjects tend to neglect their task during the interview, starting in most cases a self-referred communication.