Social support among veterans with serious mental illness.
BACKGROUND
We determined whether patients with serious mental illness were more likely to report low social support than those without serious mental illness.


METHODS
We conducted a national, cross-sectional study of VA patients in Fiscal Year 1999 who were diagnosed with a serious mental illness, as well as a random sample of VA patients without a diagnosis of serious mental illness (N = 8,547) from the National Psychosis Registry who also completed the VA's Large Health Survey of Veteran Enrollees (LHSV) 9-item questionnaire on social support. Using generalized estimating equations; we assessed patient's likelihood of reporting low social support, while controlling for patient socio-economic and clinical factors.


RESULTS
In multivariable models adjusting for patient factors, patients with serious mental illness were more likely to report low instrumental support, e.g., having no one to help with chores (OR = 1.41, p < 0.001) and low emotional support, e.g., having no one to relax with (OR = 2.05, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients diagnosed with serious mental illness reported low social support across different dimensions. Recovery-oriented services for persons with serious mental illness should focus on improving and sustaining emotional and instrumental supports for this vulnerable population.
Kilbourne
Amy M
AM
VA National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research & Evaluation Center, 2215 Fuller Road, 48105, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. amy.kilbourne@va.gov
McCarthy
John F
JF
Post
Edward P
EP
Welsh
Deborah
D
Blow
Frederic C
FC
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*