Communication deviance in families of schizophrenic and manic patients

Article Abstract:

Communication abnormalities have been found in schizophrenic families, specifically between schizophrenics and their parents. Research studies have found significant lack of clarity, fragmentation, and vagueness in the communication patterns of such families. The biological parents of 39 schizophrenic patients and 16 bipolar manic patients were recruited for a study designed to compare the communication deviance in families of schizophrenics with that of families of manics. Communication deviance of manics and schizophrenics themselves was measured as well. It was found that the overall communication deviance scores of schizophrenics and manics were similar, as were the communication deviance scores of their parents. A significant finding was, however, that families of manics tended to use peculiar language and odd words, and they constructed odd sentences as compared with families of schizophrenics. It was not determined whether this occurred in reaction to the patient's illness. Most importantly, this study shows that communication deviance is not limited to families of schizophrenics or to schizophrenics themselves, as it occurs in families affected by other psychiatric disorders as well. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, Telecommunications systems, Conversation, Psychoses, Psychotic disorders

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A prospective study of stressful life events and schizophrenic relapse

Article Abstract:

Previous retrospective studies, which review data that have been collected in the absence of an experimental design, have suggested that stressful events may trigger a relapse of a schizophrenic patient. To confirm this in a prospective study, 30 schizophrenic patients were placed on a standardized regimen of medication and were interviewed monthly for one year, with particular attention being paid to outside events in the patient's life that were not a direct result of his illness. At the end of one year 11 patients had suffered relapse. Using the Brown and Harris criteria for life-changing events, analysis showed that the patients who suffered relapse had an average of 0.73 life changes in the month prior to relapse, more than did the nonrelapsed patients, who had an average of 0.07. The results lend support to the notion that schizophrenic episodes may be triggered by stressful life events. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Case studies, Stress (Psychology), Life change events

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Verbal interactions in the families of schizophrenic and bipolar affective patients

Article Abstract:

A comparison of the affective styles (AS) and verbal interactional behavior of relatives towards schizophrenic patients and bipolar, manic patients revealed that relatives of schizophrenics tended to express more AS intrusive and critical statements to patients. Results also showed that schizophrenic patients tended to express more statements of self-denigration compared to bipolar patients when responding to relatives' AS behavior. In contrast, bipolar patients often made statements supportive of their relatives when confronted with similar AS behavior.

Research, Family, Bipolar disorder

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