Parental Representations of Schizophrenics and their Association with Onset and Course of Schizophrenia

Abstract

SummaryThe view that schizophrenics have been exposed to a parental style of low care and overprotection was assessed in a case-control study of 72 schizophrenics using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) which measures perceived parental characteristics. Those who assigned one or both parents to the low care/overprotection group had an earlier age of initial hospitalization, and in nine months following hospital discharge were more likely to be readmitted. The PBI is a simple measure capable of predicting schizophrenic relapse.