Perceived expressed emotion in the siblings and parents of hospitalized patients with anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Objective The present study investigated the relationship between the level of perceived Expressed Emotion (EE) of the siblings and parents of patients hospitalized with anorexia nervosa and its effect on weight gain and psychological functioning. Method The Level of Expressed Emotion (LEE) Scale was administered on admission to 19 patients with anorexia nervosa who completed the LEE three times so as to identify their perceptions of their relationship with their closest age sibling, mother, and father. They were also required to complete the Eating Disorder Inventory 2 (EDI-2). Patients' closest age sibling completed the Family Attitude Scale (FAS). The patients' body mass index (BMI) was calculated 6 weeks later, and the EDI-2 readministered. Results Perceived EE was not predictive of BMI change after 6 weeks of hospitalization. A composite perceived family EE score was a significant predictor of change on the Interpersonal Distrust, Maturity Fears, and Perfectionism subscales of the EDI-2. Discussion These findings suggest that patients' perceptions of their relationships with their closest aged sibling, mother, and father are poor predictors of weight gain and improvement in psychological functioning following 6 weeks of inpatient treatment. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 27: 288–296, 2000.