title: Money and Mental Illness: A Study of the Relationship Between Poverty and Serious Psychological Problems.
abstract: Several studies have indicated a co-occurrence between mental problems, a bad economy, and social isolation. Medical treatments focus on reducing the extent of psychiatric problems. Recent research, however, has highlighted the possible effects of social initiatives. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between severe mental illness, economic status, and social relations.
  
  
  
  a financial contribution per month was granted to 100 individuals with severe mental illnesses for a 9-month period. Assessments of the subjects were made before the start of the intervention and after 7 months' duration. A comparison group including treatment as usual only was followed using the same instruments. Significant improvements were found for depression and anxiety, social networks, and sense of self. No differences in functional level were found. Social initiatives may have treatment and other beneficial effects and should be integrated into working contextually with persons with severe mental illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Blekinge Centre of Competence, Karlskrona, Sweden. ljungqvist.ingemar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ingemar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ljungqvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, Stockholms University, Stockholm, Sweden.|Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Grimstad, Norway.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Topor
authors.affiliation: Blekinge County Hospital and Blekinge Centre of Competence, Karlskrona, Sweden.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Forssell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Idor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Institution for Social and Policy Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics*; D011203:Poverty; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011632:Public Assistance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D012946:Social Welfare; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Functional level; Poverty; Severe mental illness; Social network; Symptoms