512209-13-6LO AID: 5766 | 7/3/2017
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Sometime ago it was thought that parents are solely responsible for the disorder cause in children. The hostile behavior of parents towards their kids, rejecting their children and wrong parenting methods were all reasons for disorders to set in children. Especially, mothers were blamed for being critics. Many times a schizophrenic mother’s cold behavior was also found to be a reason for schizophrenia in kids. So parents not only had the problem of handling a devastating illness but also they had to take on the blame of poor parenting.
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Though schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder the symptoms are more severe in an instance of relapse. And the symptoms are mild at the remission period. The living conditions for schizophrenic patients should be conducive after they leave hospital. Studies have proved that chances of relapse are more for those patients who have to put up with parents or spouses. It was easier to live alone or with siblings after taking discharge from hospital.
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Too much of emotions in the family becomes a stress for the patient of schizophrenia. While speaking to a researcher about the patient one needs to refine the construction of expressed emotion (EE).
The 3 important elements of expressed emotion (EE) are – criticism, hostility and emotional over involvement (EOI). Speaking with a tone of criticism makes the patient feel that he/she is disliked and disapproved by the family. Being hostile makes him feel totally rejected as an individual. Patient feels nonexistent an over concerned attitude towards the illness or disorder. Expressed emotions have been observed to produce relapses in patients.
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A high level of expressed emotions (EE) environment doubles the chances of relapse post hospitalization. Patients with chronic illness have more chances of relapse as per the predictions of EE. However, the contrary has also been observed that reduced levels of EE also decreased the rate of relapses. Patients of schizophrenia are quite sensitive to stress. When family members exhibit high EE behavior it causes a stress in patients due to the release of cortisol. Cortisol has an effect on the neurotransmitter system resulting in a relapse of symptoms.
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Hence, a stable EE (expressed emotions) of family is very important to avoid any relapse of the disorder.