The impact of the emotional climate in the home of the schizophrenic on relapse has been
researched extensively through the construct of Expressed Emotion (EE). Most often patients
from high EE homes have a higher relapse rate than those from low EE homes. This is a robust
finding throughout many western and some non-western countries. However, no published
research documents EE status and relapse in African countries. This study reports on the EE
status and rehospitalisation rates of 29 Zulu-speaking schizophrenic patients in a South African
sample. EE was assessed using a translated version of the Level of Expressed Emotion (LEE)
scale, a 60 - item, self-report measure developed in Canada (Cole & Kazarian, 1988). A
multistage translation procedure, comprising back-translation, the committee approach and
decentering was employed. The Zulu SCL-90-R was administered as an indicator of
psychological distress. Follow-up data on rehospitalisation was collected nine months after index admission. Results indicated somewhat unsatisfactory internal reliabilities on some of the subscales of the
Zulu LEE scale. High scores on the Zulu LEE scale were not significantly predictive of
rehospitalisation at follow-up; however, they were significantly predictive of greater previous
admissions. The psychometric properties of the Zulu SCL-90-R were found to be satisfactory,
indicating the validity of using this instrument for the purpose of screening for psychiatric
illness. Zulu schizophrenics were found to have a lower rehospitalisation rate (17% at nine
month follow-up) than found in international studies. The course for female schizophrenics was
better than that for male schizophrenics. Findings are inconclusive regarding the impact of EE on
the course of schizophrenia in a Zulu sample. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/3467 |
| Date | January 2000 |
| Creators | Potter, Sebastian Ruxton. |
| Contributors | Wassenaar, Douglas Richard. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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