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Perceived emotional support in remission: results from an 18-month follow-up of patients with early episode psychosis

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Abstract

Purpose

Serious mental illness is known for the damage that it inflicts on the social network and social support of patients. Although many studies have used relapse and rehospitalisation as outcomes, recent research has emphasized the importance of a fuller definition of recovery that includes social function. In this study, our goal is to investigate the association of social support with sustained remission in patients with early episode psychosis.

Methods

A secondary analysis of remission and social support was performed with 123 of 144 patients enrolled in the Lambeth Early Onset randomized clinical trial who ever achieved symptom-free status in 18 months of follow-up. Social support was measured by hours of family contact, perceived support, and network size at 6 months into an early intervention treatment program. Consensus judgments made by clinicians on symptom status at each of 18 months of follow-up were analyzed for consecutive months spent in remission. Direct and mediated effects of social support on remission were calculated using Poisson regression and path analysis, respectively.

Results

114 of 123 patients achieved remission after about 7 months on average [mean 6.81 (SD 4.17)]. In univariate models, perceived emotional support predicted longer time spent in remission, while moderate family contact predicted shorter remission duration. Perceived practical support was not associated with remission. Perceived emotional support mediated the association between family contact and remission and between network size and remission. These results are not totally attributable to a specialized early intervention treatment.

Conclusion

Structural measures of support probably contribute to the maintenance of remission through the patient’s perception of emotional support.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no financial interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Montfort Hospital, 713 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON, K1K 0T2, Canada

    Raymond Tempier

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Rm. 110 Ellis Hall, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W8, Canada

    Lloyd Balbuena & Marje Lepnurm

  3. Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom

    Tom K. J. Craig

Authors
  1. Raymond Tempier
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  2. Lloyd Balbuena
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  3. Marje Lepnurm
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  4. Tom K. J. Craig
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Correspondence to Raymond Tempier.

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Tempier, R., Balbuena, L., Lepnurm, M. et al. Perceived emotional support in remission: results from an 18-month follow-up of patients with early episode psychosis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 48, 1897–1904 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0701-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0701-3

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