title: The role of perceived social support after psychiatric hospitalisation: Post hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a transitional intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between social support, readmissions and psychopathology following discharge from psychiatric hospitals is not clear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prospective effects of perceived social support on rehospitalisation rates and psychopathology and to focus on the moderators of a transitional intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  This post hoc analysis of a multisite randomised controlled trial included 151 patients with no more than three hospitalisations within the last 3 years, a Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score ≤60 and aged 18-64 years, assessed at two psychiatric hospitals from Zurich, Switzerland, between September 2011 and February 2014. Participants received either a transitional intervention aimed at improving social support during the transition from inpatient to outpatient care provided by a social worker or treatment as usual.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lack of perceived social support at discharge significantly predicted subsequent rehospitalisation rates and increased psychopathological impairment across 12-month follow-up. Significant interaction effects between patient characteristics and the intervention on perceived social support comprised living at parent's home, having no children and being of younger age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceived social support at discharge from inpatient care may reduce rehospitalisation rates and psychopathological impairment in the long term. A transitional intervention aimed at improving social support may negatively impact on the perceived social support in some patient groups.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hengartner
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Passalacqua
authors.affiliation: 2 Integrated Psychiatric Clinic of Winterthur and Zurich Unterland (IPW), Winterthur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andreae
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.|4 Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM27), Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.|5 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Wulf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rössler
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Wyl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D013557:Switzerland; D000069341:Transitional Care; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Social support; case management; continuity of care; psychopathology; rehospitalisation; treatment