Abstract
For people experiencing psychosis, namely schizophrenia, contact with family members may provide valuable support throughout the course of illness. Some family environments, specifically those displaying high levels of expressed emotion, may have a detrimental effect on the recovery of an individual with schizophrenia. Evidence for the effectiveness of working with these families is mixed and the nature of how expressed emotion develops and is maintained is complex. In the present paper, recent clinical and theoretical research in this area is reviewed and the main themes and ambiguities discussed.