Social disability in different mental disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the social disability of people with different psychiatric disorders.


METHODS
Cross-site survey in five psychiatric hospitals (Dresden, Wrocław, London, Michalovce and Prague). Working-aged patients diagnosed (ICD-10) with schizophrenia and related disorders (F2), affective disorders (F3), anxiety disorders (F4), eating disorders (F5) and personality disorders (F6), were assessed at admission (n=969) and 3 months after discharge (n=753) using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Groningen Social Disability Schedule. The main outcome measure was Interviewer-rated social disability.


RESULTS
During acute episodes patients with personality, eating and schizophrenic disorders functioned less effectively than those with affective or anxiety disorders. After controlling for age and severity of psychopathology, there was no significant effect of the diagnosis (during remission), sex, education and history of disorder on disability. Site, employment and partnership were significant factors for the level of social disability in both measure points.


CONCLUSIONS
Severity of psychopathological symptoms, not the diagnosis of a mental disorder, was the most significant factor in determining the level of social functioning, particularly during the remission period. Site, employment and partnership appeared as significant factors influencing the level of social disability.
Rymaszewska
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wyb. L. Pasteura 10, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland. ankarym@psych.am.wroc.pl
Jarosz-Nowak
J
J
Kiejna
A
A
Kallert
T
T
Schützwohl
M
M
Priebe
S
S
Wright
D
D
Nawka
P
P
Raboch
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors