Family overinvolvement and criticism: An introduction to expressed emotion

Abstract

This article provides an introduction to the construct of expressed emotion (EE), which comprises criticism, hostility, and emotional overinvolvement. The importance of EE as a predictor of treatment outcome and relapse in a number of psychiatric disorders is noted, as are the possible mechanisms of EE's impact on the patient and potential causes of EE. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.