Burn-out syndrome, evaluation of patients relatives qualities of life and determination of influential factors

SUMMARYFamilial factors in chronic diseases are mostly evaluated by the?Expressed Emotion (EE)? concept. The aim of the study was to determine theexpressed emotion of the patients and patients? relatives, to simultaneouslyevaluate the life qualities of patients? relatives and patients? desperation levels,to disclose the current situation and additional factors which may be responsiblefor the situation. Fifty-two patients (mean age: 42.8±18.2 years, range: 18-78years) of whom 30 were males (57.7%) and 22 were females (42.3%) and 52patients? relatives (mean age: 46.4±16.6 years, range: 20-73 years) of whom 17were males (32.7%) and 35 were females (67.3%) were included in the study.LEE Expressed Emotion scale, which measures familial factors and exhaustionin chronically ill patients, was related with EE Expressed Emotion (p<0.02) andQuality of Life scales (p<0.005) of patients? relatives. The association with EEscale was present only in the EE Critisizm-Hostility subscales (p<0.01). BECKdesperation scale of patients was significantly related with EE EmotionalExpression EE-Emotional Overinvolvement subscale (p<0.02) and SF-36Quality of life scale (p<0.001) of patients? relatives. The association with SF-36was present only in the mental health subscale (p<0.0001). These resultsreflected that the behaviors, attitudes and reactions of the patients? relativeswere interacting with emotional status of the patients.III