Study of the family features in childhood schizophrenia

Objective To explore the family features of childhood schizophrenia.Methods A total of 71 child patients with schizophrenia(study group) and 128 healthy controls(control group) were evaluated with self-designed general information questionnaire,the self-rating scale of systematic family dynamics(SSFD) and the family environment scale Chinese version(FES-CV).Results(1)Study group showed significantly higher scores on family atmosphere,systematic logic in SSFD than those in control group(t=3.287,P0.01;t=2.987,P0.01).There were no differences in dynamic dimensions of individuation and disease conception between the two groups(P0.05).(2) The score of cohesion in FES-CV in study group was significantly lower than that in control group(t=-3.955,P0.01),while scores of conflict,independence and control in study group were significantly higher than those in control group(t=3.214,P0.01;t=2.178,P0.05;t=2.528,P0.05).(3) The stepwise regression indicated that the family atmosphere was positively correlated with conflict factor(P0.01),and was negatively related with cohesion and organization factors(P0.01).The individuation was negatively related with cohesion and independence(P0.01).System logic dimensions was positively related with the control factor(P0.01),and was negatively related wiht expressiveness(P0.01).Disease conception was positively related with achievement(P0.01),while was negatively related with the active-recreational orientation(P0.01).Conclusion The family features of childhood schizophrenia include low cohesion,low expressiveness,high conflict and high control.The family atmosphere is inclined to be hostile and sullen.And the system logic tendes to be white or black.