The quantity and quality of the social networks of young people with earlypsychosis compared with closely matched controls

This study compares the social networks and perceived social support of 26 people with early psychosis and 26 people without a mental illness. The two groups were closely matched for age, sex, education level, and employment and relationship status, and had equivalent levels of depression. There wer e no differences between the two groups in the amount of perceived social s upport, number of family members, and number of participants with acquainta nces. However, the psychosis group identified significantly smaller network s, t (50)= -2.34, P=0.024, with fewer friends, t (48)= - 3.61, P= 0.001, fe wer people to turn to in a crisis, 1 (22.97)= -2.34, P =0.028, and a higher likelihood of service providers as members, chi (2)( 1)= 7.02, P=0.008. Gi ven the important relationship between strong social networks and high leve ls of community functioning and tenure, future research needs to evaluate t he type of social support most beneficial for people with early psychosis a nd to develop strategies to maintain and facilitate that support. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.