PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS, SOCIAL SUPPORT AND SOCIAL SUPPORT SEEKING - APROSPECTIVE-STUDY AMONG PRIMARY MENTAL-HEALTH-CARE PATIENTS

This study addresses the time ordering of both quantitative and qualit ative social support variables, social support seeking and psychologic al distress. Number of contacts, perceived understanding, satisfaction , severity of network conflicts, social support seeking and symptomato logy were assessed at two points in time: at the start of a short term behavioural therapy (T1) and six months later (T2). Severity of sympt omatology at T2 was best predicted by the severity of symptomatology a t referral and by the change in interpersonal problems. Social support -seeking was at both measurements unrelated to symptomatology. The num ber of contacts, satisfaction, understanding and social support seekin g demonstrated high temporal stability, in contrast to symptomatology and interpersonal problems. A more fine-grained analysis demonstrated that of all social support variables, interpersonal conflicts were mos t strongly related to symptomatology, especially to interpersonal sens itivity and depression. It is concluded that interventions aimed in pa rticular at relieving interpersonal sensitivity and interpersonal stre ss and at fostering interpersonal effectiveness may prove to be critic al in breaking vicious circles.