Abstract
Objective: Recent evidence found that patients with schizophrenia display non-verbal behaviour designed to avoid social engagement during the opening moments of their meetings with psychiatrists. This study aimed to replicate, and build on, this finding, assessing the non-verbal behaviour of patients and psychiatrists during meetings, exploring changes over time and its association with patients' symptoms and the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
Method: 40-videotaped routine out-patient consultations, involving patients with schizophrenia, were analysed. Non-verbal behaviour of patients and psychiatrists was assessed during three fixed, 2-min intervals using a modified Ethological Coding System for Interviews. Symptoms, satisfaction with communication and the quality of the therapeutic relationship were also measured.
Results: Over time, patients' non-verbal behaviour remained stable, whilst psychiatrists' flight behaviour decreased. Patients formed two groups based on their non-verbal profiles, one group (n = 25) displaying pro-social behaviour, inviting interaction and a second (n = 15) displaying flight behaviour, avoiding interaction. Psychiatrists interacting with pro-social patients displayed more pro-social behaviours (P < 0.001). Patients' pro-social profile was associated reduced symptom severity (P < 0.05), greater satisfaction with communication (P < 0.001) and positive therapeutic relationships (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Patients' non-verbal behaviour during routine psychiatric consultations remains unchanged, and is linked to both their psychiatrist's non-verbal behaviour and the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 197-205 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica |
Volume | 131 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 06 Aug 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 01 Mar 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2014 The Authors.
Keywords
- Ethological research
- Interpersonal communication
- Psychiatry
- Psychosis
- Therapeutic relationship
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health