Family factors have been reported to influence the course of schizophrenia. In a replication of British studies, schizophrenic patients from the Los Angeles area were evaluated for symptomatic relapse 9 months after hospital discharge as a function of the level of "expressed emotion" in their relatives. In striking confirmation of the British findings, patients who came from families that were excessively critical, emotionally overinvolved, or both were much more likely to relapse than their counterparts who came from more tolerant and accepting families.