Assessing the family environment of schizophrenic patients with multiple hospital admissions.

The authors compared the responses on the Family Environment Scale of 12 schizophrenic inpatients who had been hospitalized more than three times in the previous 12 months and a control group of 12 similarly diagnosed inpatients who had been admitted less frequently. Responses of the patients' families were also computed. Patients who were admitted more often reported greater family conflict and less freedom to express emotions. Family responses revealed significantly more incongruity among family members of the more frequently hospitalized patients than among those of the control group. The authors suggest that studies be conducted to determine if the data obtained by the scale are analogous to data on expressed emotion obtained by the more complex Camberwell Family Interview; if so, the Family Environment Scale could be an alternative to the Camberwell Family Interview in studies of schizophrenic patients and their families.