title: Feelings of loneliness among adults with mental disorder.
abstract: Loneliness can affect people at any time and for some it can be an overwhelming feeling leading to negative thoughts and feelings. The current study, based on the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in England, 2007, quantified the association of loneliness with a range of specific mental disorders and tested whether the relationship was influenced by formal and informal social participation and perceived social support.Methods Using a random probability sample design,7,461 adults were interviewed in a cross-sectional national survey in England in 2007. Common Mental Disorders were assessed using the revised Clinical Interview Schedule;the diagnosis of psychosis was based on the administration of the Schedules of the Clinical Assessment of Neuropsychiatry, while loneliness was derived from an item in the Social Functioning Questionnaire.Results Feelings of loneliness were more prevalent in women (OR = 1.34, 95 % CI 1.20–1.50, P\0.001) as well as in those who were single (OR = 2.24, 95 % C I1.96–2.55, P<0.001), widowed, divorced or separated(OR = 2.78, 95 % CI 2.38–3.23, P<0.001), economically inactive (OR = 1.24, 95 % CI 1.11–1.44,P = 0.007), living in rented accommodation (OR = 1.73,95 % CI 1.53–1.95, P<0.001) or in debt (OR = 2.47,95 % CI 2.07–1.50, P<0.001). Loneliness was associated with all mental disorders, especially depression [corrected].
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, 22-28 Princess Road West, Leicester, LE1 6TP, UK. hm74@le.ac.uk
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bebbington
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: Traolach S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Brugha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult