Relatives' emotional warmth towards patients with schizophrenia or related psychoses: demographic and clinical predictors

Despite the importance of relatives' emotional warmth for outcome in schizophrenia, no studies to dale have addressed demographic and clinical predictors of warmth. We examined a Norwegian sample of 47 recently hospitalized patients (with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder) and 72 key relatives. Relatives emotional. warmth was assessed by means of the Camberwell Family Interview: Regression analyses showed that no substance abuse (especially amphetamines). better premorbid adjustment (12-15 years), a chronic social security status, and the relative not being a parent were the strongest predictors of emotional warmth. Emotional warmth was not related to patients' symptoms.