a qualitative measure of the amount of emotion displayed, typically in the family setting, usually by a family or caretaker; it refers to high levels of criticism, hostility, and emotional involvement between key members of a family
* Is apredictor of relapse
* Families high in this tend to be intolerant of the patient’s problems, have inflexible strategies for dealing with their difficulties and symptoms, and blame the sufferer for their condition
* The effect of this on symptoms and relapse appears to be moderated by cultural factors (e.g. EE was less likely to cause relapse in Mexican immigrants to the US than in the indigenous population)