Social support predicts 5-year outcome in first-episode schizophrenia.
Investigations of social support in schizophrenia have been relatively sparse. In this research, patients with 1st-episode schizophrenia or affective psychosis were asked to describe supportive social relationships immediately prior to their 1st lifetime treatment contact and were interviewed 18 months and 5 years later for assessment of their social and occupational functioning. The results indicated that 18-month adaptive functioning was lower than in the year prior to 1st treatment contact but at 5 years rose above that seen both at baseline and 18 months. Moreover, social support from nonfamily members of the social network predicted 5-year adaptive functioning in the schizophrenia (n = 54) group but not in the affective psychosis (n = 55) group. Support from family did not predict 5-year outcome in either group. Together, these findings replicate and extend earlier findings that social support predicts outcome in 1st-episode schizophrenia.
Erickson
D H
DH
Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. derickso@rohcg.on.ca
Beiser
M
M
Iacono
W G
WG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome