The relationship between parental communication deviance and relapse in schizophrenie patients in the 1-year period after hospital discharge: A pilot study

Dawn I. Velligan, Alexander L. Miller, Stacey L. Eckert, Linda G. Funderburg, Janet E. True, Roderick K. Mahurin, Pamela Diamond, Bonnie C. Hazelton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present pilot study examined the ability of parental communication deviance (CD) to predict relapse in schizophrenic patients in the 1-year period after hospital discharge. Measures of CD were obtained from verbatim transcripts of family problem-solving discussions for 20 schizophrenic patients and their parents atan initial assessment and before the patients' hospital discharge. Relapse was assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale at 3-month intervals after discharge. Findings indicated that parental CD measured at an assessment immediately before the patient's release from the hospital was moderately correlated (r = .49, p < .05) with relapse in the 1-year follow-up period. Results are discussed with respect to the possible role of parental CD as an environmental stressor in the period after discharge. Potential contributors to parental CD, including genetically transmitted cognitive deficits and stress resulting from resuming the care-giver role, are also discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)490-496
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Volume184
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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