J Quinn1, C Barrowclough, N Tarrier. 1. Tameside and Glossop Community and Priority NHS Trust, Tameside General Hospital, Ashton-under-Lyne, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Family Questionnaire (FQ): a self-report measure of relatives' perceptions of the behaviours and symptoms of schizophrenic patients in terms of three dimensions: the frequency of symptoms, the relatives' concern (primary appraisal) and their ability to cope (secondary appraisal) with the symptoms. METHOD: Factor analysis of the FQ, test-retest and inter-rater reliability, and measures of validity were examined. RESULTS: Factor analysis supported the validity of five subscales labelled negative symptoms, antisocial behaviours, interpersonal problems, affective symptoms and psychotic symptoms. Test-retest reliability for all scales was good and the prediction that there would be limited correspondence between two different relatives' scores was supported for the subscales of negative symptoms and affective symptoms. Concurrent measures of relatives' distress, burden and patients' symptomatology indicated that the FQ showed acceptable validity. In particular, the study showed that high expressed emotion relatives have higher scores on the appraisal dimensions of some subscales. CONCLUSION: The study provides evidence that the FQ is a useful tool for measuring relatives' perceptions of schizophrenic illness, particularly within the context of family interventions where it may be utilized to help to understand the factors mediating relatives' burden and distress.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Family Questionnaire (FQ): a self-report measure of relatives' perceptions of the behaviours and symptoms of schizophrenicpatients in terms of three dimensions: the frequency of symptoms, the relatives' concern (primary appraisal) and their ability to cope (secondary appraisal) with the symptoms. METHOD: Factor analysis of the FQ, test-retest and inter-rater reliability, and measures of validity were examined. RESULTS: Factor analysis supported the validity of five subscales labelled negative symptoms, antisocial behaviours, interpersonal problems, affective symptoms and psychotic symptoms. Test-retest reliability for all scales was good and the prediction that there would be limited correspondence between two different relatives' scores was supported for the subscales of negative symptoms and affective symptoms. Concurrent measures of relatives' distress, burden and patients' symptomatology indicated that the FQ showed acceptable validity. In particular, the study showed that high expressed emotion relatives have higher scores on the appraisal dimensions of some subscales. CONCLUSION: The study provides evidence that the FQ is a useful tool for measuring relatives' perceptions of schizophrenic illness, particularly within the context of family interventions where it may be utilized to help to understand the factors mediating relatives' burden and distress.
Authors: Fiona Lobban; Nadia Akers; Duncan Appelbe; Rossella Iraci Capuccinello; Lesley Chapman; Lizzi Collinge; Susanna Dodd; Sue Flowers; Bruce Hollingsworth; Mahsa Honary; Sonia Johnson; Steven H Jones; Ceu Mateus; Barbara Mezes; Elizabeth Murray; Katerina Panagaki; Naomi Rainford; Heather Robinson; Anna Rosala-Hallas; William Sellwood; Andrew Walker; Paula R Williamson Journal: Health Technol Assess Date: 2020-06 Impact factor: 4.014