COPING STRATEGIES, DISTRESS OF RELATIVES AND THE COURSE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

This empirical study including 32 families of schizophrenic patients (DSM-III-R) investigates the connection of distress and coping strategies of relatives, expressed emotion, distress of patients caused by family life and their influences on the course of schizophrenia with the focus on their prognostic values. One major issue is the question about distress factors and coping behavior of low- and high-EE-families. Using the Munsteraner Familienbogen every single family was visited at home after discharge and interviewed. The interview targeted especially the coping behavior of relatives.