The Role of Social Networks in the Maintenance of Schizophrenic Patients

Summary The levels of social support available to the nearest relativesof a sample of 45 outpatient schizophrenics are measured interms of both the structure of their social networks and thequality of their network relationships. It is hypothesized thatthe level of social support available to the closest associateof the schizophrenic patient is linked to the level of functioningfound in the patient. Good social performance in the patient is found with the structuralaspects of the nearest relative's social network whereas goodclinical performance in the patient is related to the interactionalaspects of the relative's network. The results indicate that a view of maintenance in schizophrenicpatients which incorporates both social and clinical functioningneeds to consider the structural as well as the interpersonalcharacteristics of the networks of their closest associates.