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Social Networks, Attachments and Support in Minor Affective Disorders: A Replication

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

W. Delaney
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry Clinical Research Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
J. O'Hanlon
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry Clinical Research Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
G. Bourke
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, University College, Dublin, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, Ireland

Summary

Significant deficiencies in personal social networks and social support in non-psychotic psychiatric out-patients have been reported by Henderson and his colleagues. In a replication study, 50 non-psychotic psychiatric out-patients were compared with 50 matched controls. Patients reported spending less time in social interaction, but more time in unpleasant interaction during the previous week; they also had fewer attachment figures, close relatives and good friends and fewer social contacts than controls. However, the separate analysis of Neurotic and Retarded depressives (using the Present State Examination) failed to replicate all these findings in the Retarded depressives. It is concluded that these associations are confirmed in neurotic patients, but that the more severe depressive disorders require further investigation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1982 

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