Social functioning in schizophrenic patients

Abstract

The relationship between the social functioning of schizophrenic patients and the EE levels of their relatives is examined. Patients living with a high EE relative function significantly worse than those living with low EE relatives. This appeared to be due to a poorer social functioning in patients who lived with hostile relatives. Patients who participated in a nine month behavioural family intervention showed greater improvements in social functioning than control groups. The improvements could not be explained as being due to medication since high neuroleptic dosage over nine months was associated with poorer social functioning.