Schizophrenia and Social Networks: Ex-patients in the Inner City*

Abstract

A high level of social contacts has been recognized as one of the main predictors of outcome in schizophrenia. However, a variety of issues concerning the sociability of schizophrenics still need to be clarified. Focusing on ex-mental patients residing in a large Manhattan hotel, an analysis is made of the relationship between several social network variables, psychopathology, and rehospitalization. The findings indicate that: (1) Schizophrenics have significantly fewer linkages than nonpsychotics, but even the most impaired schizophrenics are not totally isolated. (2) Within the schizophrenic spectrum there are differences with respect to network size, complexity, directionality, and interconnectedness. (3) Rehospitalization is dependent upon two factors, degree of psychopathology and hotel network size.

Qualidade de vida e dimensão ocupacional na esquizofrenia: uma comparação por sexo

“…Para muitos, os anos subseqüentes são marcados pelo isolamento social e grande prejuízo ocupacional 7,35 , assim como é evidenciado neste estudo, principalmente para os homens.…”

Conditions de vie et lieu de résidence

“…Wolpert et Wolpert (1974), Cohen et Sokolowsky (1978) Les études de suivi font apparaître que la satisfaction des personnes face à leur milieu résidentiel et le sentiment que celui-ci correspond bien à leurs besoins facilitent l'ajustement social et ont une influence positive sur le maintien dans le milieu (Coulton et al, 1984(Coulton et al, , 1985Dellario, 1982, FaIloon et Marshall, 1983Randolph et al, 1986;Trute, 1986). Suite à une recension des écrits, Cournos (1987) conclut que, «dans la plupart des études, les variables du milieu sont de meilleurs prédicteurs de résultats que les variables reliées au patient» (p. 848).…”

Treatment of Acute Psychosis Without Neuroleptics: Two-Year Outcomes From the Soteria Project

“…Social support has been positively correlated with favorable outcomes (Erickson et al, 1998). Psychotic patients tend also to have diminishing social support networks (Cohen and Sokolovsky, 1978). To address this deficit, the Soteria project provided a surrogate family for clients in residence, and a client-centered postdischarge social network grew up de novo.…”