title: Social integration of people with severe mental illness: relationships between symptom severity, professional assistance, and natural support.
abstract: Reducing dependency on professionals and social integration has been a major goal of recovery-oriented mental health services. This cross-sectional study examined 531 male outpatients at three public mental health centers in Southern Connecticut. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to answer: (1) Do clients who have more severe clinical problems rely more on professional support and mental health services, and rely less on natural supports? (2) Do clients who have greater natural supports rely less on professional support and mental health services? Results found clients with more severe clinical problems do not rely more on professional support and report less natural social support. Natural support was also found to be a complement, rather than a substitute for professional support. These findings suggest the social integration of male clients with severe mental illness may include being more connected to mental health providers even as they develop increasing natural supports.
authors.affiliation: VA New England Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, 950 Campbell Ave., 151D, West Haven, CT 06516, USA. Jack.Tsai@yale.edu
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Rani A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rosenheck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003237:Connecticut; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors