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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| The social networks of older schizophrenia patients | | Author(s) | Shirley J Semple, Thomas L Patterson, William S Shaw |
| Journal title | International Psychogeriatrics, vol 9, no 1, March 1997 |
| Pages | pp 81-94 |
| Keywords | Schizophrenia ; Family relationships ; Friendship ; Informal care ; Usage [services] ; United States of America. |
| Annotation | There is a paucity of research on the role of family members and friends in the lives of older people with schizophrenia. This US study compared 66 middle-aged and older outpatients with 31 normal comparison subjects. Five dimensions of social network were assessed: family composition, geographic proximity, and frequency of contact; instrumental support; emotional support and interpersonal difficulties; role of friends; and use of formal service providers as sources of support and assistance. As compared with healthy subjects, the schizophrenic patients were less likely to be married, less likely to have children, more likely to live alone, and had fewer friendships. The patients were, however, similar to comparison subjects in the following family relationship variables: frequency of contact, instrumental support received, presence of a family confidant, and extent of interpersonal difficulties. The findings do not support the stereotype of older schizophrenia patients as being estranged from family members. The need for developing interventions that use key family members to interface with service providers and to monitor treatment compliance and continuity of care is discussed. (AKM). |
| Accession Number | CPA-980930416 A |
| Classmark | ELK: DS:SJ: DS:SX: P6: QLD: 7T |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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