Citation

Kilbourne AM, McCarthy JF, Post EP, Welsh D, Blow FC. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol. 2007; 42(8): 639-646.

Affiliation

VA National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research & Evaluation Center, 2215 Fuller Road, 48105, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. amy.kilbourne@va.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00127-007-0212-1

PMID

17520160

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We determined whether patients with serious mental illness were more likely to report low social support than those without serious mental illness. METHOD: We conducted a national, cross-sectional study of VA patients in Fiscal Year 1999 who were diagnosed with a serious mental illness, as well as a random sample of VA patients without a diagnosis of serious mental illness (N = 8,547) from the National Psychosis Registry who also completed the VA's Large Health Survey of Veteran Enrollees (LHSV) 9-item questionnaire on social support. Using generalized estimating equations; we assessed patient's likelihood of reporting low social support, while controlling for patient socio-economic and clinical factors. RESULTS: In multivariable models adjusting for patient factors, patients with serious mental illness were more likely to report low instrumental support, e.g., having no one to help with chores (OR = 1.41, p < 0.001) and low emotional support, e.g., having no one to relax with (OR = 2.05, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients diagnosed with serious mental illness reported low social support across different dimensions. Recovery-oriented services for persons with serious mental illness should focus on improving and sustaining emotional and instrumental supports for this vulnerable population.

Language: en