ABSTRACT
Family factors, including expressed emotion (EE), may play a non-specific role in the genesis and maintenance of eating disorders. This chapter traces the origin of the study of EE in the context of anorexia nervosa followed by a synthesis of research evidence regarding patient and caregiver characteristics associated with expressed emotion and their relation to treatment outcomes. The chapter includes discussion of the use of a separated format of family-based treatment in families with high parental criticism, the impact of caregiver burden and distress on treatment outcomes, the bidirectional relationship in expressed emotion that arises between patients and their caregivers, and the consequences of changes in EE during treatment. Throughout, clinical and theoretical implications are discussed, concluding with critical directions for future research.
