Family assessment and linguistic interaction: analysis of the Camberwell family interview

Expressed Emotion (EE) is a form of assessment of the family environment: it is highly reliable and has proved to be predictive for symptomatologic relapse with schizophrenic subjects. Rating is obtained by offering to relatives living with the schizophrenic patient a structured interview, the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI). In the present study we will undertake a linguistic analysis (with quantitative and semantic evaluation) of 16 CFI, in order to detect communication parameters likely to be correlated with basic EE categories (high and low EE). The results obtained demonstrate that high EE relatives show a more immediate response style and a greater amount of speech. Moreover, these subjects tend to neglect their task during the interview, starting in most cases a self-referred communication.