The role of perceived social support after psychiatric hospitalisation: Post hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a transitional intervention

Michael P Hengartner, Silvia Passalacqua, Andreas Andreae, Wulf Rössler and Agnes von Wyl

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2017, vol. 63, issue 4, 297-306

Abstract: Background: The association between social support, readmissions and psychopathology following discharge from psychiatric hospitals is not clear. Aims: To examine the prospective effects of perceived social support on rehospitalisation rates and psychopathology and to focus on the moderators of a transitional intervention. Method: 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. Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: Social support; case management; treatment; continuity of care; rehospitalisation; psychopathology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:63:y:2017:i:4:p:297-306

DOI: 10.1177/0020764017700664

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