Optimal Network for Patients with Severe Mental Illness: A Social Network Analysis.
It is still unclear what the optimal structure of mental health care networks should be. We examine whether certain types of network structure have been associated with improved continuity of care and greater social integration. A social network survey was carried out, covering 954 patients across 19 mental health networks in Belgium in 2014. We found continuity of care to be associated with large, centralized, and homophilous networks, whereas social integration was associated with smaller, centralized, and heterophilous networks. Two important goals of mental health service provision, continuity of care and social integration, are associated with different types of network. Further research is needed to ascertain the direction of this association.
Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, Clos chapelle aux champs 30.15/05, 1200, Bruxelles, Belgium. vincent.lorant@uclouvain.be.
Vincent
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2663-332X
V
Lorant
Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research, University of Manchester, Humanities Bridgeford Street Building, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
James
J
Nazroo
Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, Clos chapelle aux champs 30.15/05, 1200, Bruxelles, Belgium.
Pablo
P
Nicaise
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D062309:Community Integration; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration
Optimal structure; Patients with psychiatric disorders; Referral network