THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL DYSFUNCTIONING AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AMONG PRIMARY-CARE ATTENDERS

The extent of social dysfunctioning and its relationship to psychologi cal disorders among Dutch primary care patients was examined. Social d ysfunctioning in these patients was rather limited, but was more prono unced in patients with a psychological disorder than in those without. Disabilities were largely restricted to the occupational and social r oles, with family role functioning and self-care relatively intact. So cial dysfunctioning was moderately related to psychopathology, with hi gher levels of dysfunctioning in more severe and depressed cases. The extent of social dysfunctioning among patients with both anxiety and d epression was similar to that of patients with a single diagnosis of d epression. Depressed patients had a similar level of dysfunctioning to non-psychotic psychiatric out-patients. Analyses regarding the effect s of diagnosis and severity on social dysfunctioning revealed consider able overlap between these two aspects of psychopathology. This study supports the need for a simultaneous but separate assessment of psycho pathology and social dysfunctioning. However, future research should i ncorporate additional predictors of social dysfunctioning (e.g. person ality, life events, long-term difficulties, physical disorders), and p rospective studies should be conducted to clarify the temporal sequenc es of symptom severity, diagnosis, and comorbidity on the one hand, an d social dysfunctioning on the other.