Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2005, Psychology

Expressed emotion (EE) refers to critical or overinvolved communication styles within the home, and negative (‘high') EE has been linked to worse outcomes in adults and children with a variety of psychiatric disorders. The present study examined the relationship between parent factors (Axis I and Axis II psychopathology, current mood symptoms, knowledge of mood disorders) and child factors (current and worst mood severity and global functioning) and EE level in parents of children aged 8-11 with early-onset depression and bipolar disorder. Baseline data from mothers and fathers were examined separately using logistic and linear regressions. Data initially were analyzed using a dichotomous high versus low EE rating scored from the Five Minute Speech Sample (FMSS). In the mothers, lower child current global functioning and higher parent-reported current mood severity in the child were the only significant predictors of high EE status. For the fathers, only lower child current functioning was a significant predictor of high EE status. Next, data were analyzed using a continuous measure of critical comments obtained from the FMSS. In the mothers, lower child current functioning and higher parent-reported current mood severity in the child were significant predictors of critical comments made. No factors significantly predicted critical comments made by the fathers. Finally, EE was examined using a self-report Expressed Emotion Adjective Checklist, which provides a continuous scoring system of attitudes and behaviors expressed within parent-child dyads. For the mothers, all parent characteristics other than knowledge of mood disorders were significant predictors of more negative attitudes expressed by the parent toward the child. In the fathers, lower knowledge of mood disorders and higher Axis II Cluster B and Appendix B (depressive and negativistic personality disorders) symptoms were significant predictors of more negative attitudes expressed by the parent toward the (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Mary Fristad (Advisor) Subjects: