Expressed emotion and depression. A longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies show that criticism by relatives during acute depressive illness predicts relapse over nine months, but the course of criticism over time and its relation to the course of illness, have not been examined in depressed patients. METHOD: Thirty-nine depressed patients and their partners, were interviewed separately at three-monthly intervals over about one year. Illness was assessed by Research Diagnostic Criteria and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Criticism was measured by the Camberwell Family Interview. RESULTS: Criticism when patients were most depressed predicted neither remission nor subsequent relapse. Patients who fully recovered, with or without later relapse, had partners who were consistently uncritical, or critical only at presentation. Patients with residual symptoms during remission had more persistently critical partners. CONCLUSIONS: The nature of the association between criticism and depression could not be unequivocally established, although it appeared likely that continuing criticism was a result of continuing depression. Relatives' understanding of the illness may mediate between levels of criticism and the course of depression.