Abstract: Objective: To analyze the effect of empathy training on the emotion expression regulation of guardians for schizophrenic patients. Methods: Sixty guardians for schizophrenic patients were randomly divided into the intervention group (30 cases) and the control group (30 cases). The control group received routine guidance, and the intervention group received empathy training on the basis of routine guidance, 40 minutes each time, 5 times in total. The Chinese versions of Camberwell Family Interview (CFI-CV) and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI-C) were used to evaluate the effects before and after the intervention. Results: The incidence of high emotional expression in guardians for schizophrenic patients was 51.7%. Scores of criticism and emotional over-intervention in high emotional expression after the intervention both were significantly lower than those before the intervention (P<0.05) for the intervention group. Meanwhile, those two scores after the intervention were significantly lower for the intervention group than those of the control group (P<0.05). In addition, the total IRI-C score and scores of all dimensions of IRI-C after the intervention were significantly higher than those before the intervention (P<0.05) for the intervention group. Moreover, the scores for IRI-C and its dimensions after the intervention were significantly higher for the intervention group compared with the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Empathy training can effectively improve the empathy ability of guardians for schizophrenic patients and reduce the occurrence of their high emotional expression.

Key words: empathy training; schizophrenia; guardian; intervention study