The experience of social support in patients suffering from major depression 1997 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year))Student thesis

Abstract [en]

Depressive illness may affect every other woman and every fourth man at some time in their lives. The point prevalence for major depression is around 5 %. A well-functioning social network may be a protective factor during stressful life events and serve as a buffer against depression. The aim of this study was to find out wether depressed patients have a wellfunctioning network, and what are the characteristics of patients with insufficient social support. Twenty-seven patients who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder were included in this study. Two questionnaries mapping life events, social support and social network were used. The result showed that only 37 % had what was judged as an insufficient social support. Those with insufficient and sufficient social support had equal severity of depression, and the same number of stressful life events. A disciminant analysis showed patients with insufficient social support to be characterised by 1) a subjective conviction that best support was received from people in their network other than family, 2) female gender, and 3) fewer individuals in the network. The support valued highest was emotional. In summary, it is possible to identify a patient with insufficient social support by posing a few questions relevant to the social network, thus allowing network strengthening interventions. One possible intervention might be an outpatient psychiatric nurse keeping regular contact with the patient once weekly.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages

1997.

Keywords [en]

depression

Identifiers

URN: urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-7433Local ID: U1304OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hh-7433DiVA, id: diva2:362491

Uppsok

Medicine

Note

Denna uppsats kan beställas från arkivet / This paper can be ordered from the archive. Kontakta / Contact: arkivet@hh.seAvailable from: 2010-11-09 Created: 2010-11-09Bibliographically approved

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