The role of social relationships in the course of first-episode schizophrenia and affective psychosis

The Markers and Predictors of Psychosis study at the University of British Columbia addresses the role of psychosocial factors, such as social relationships, in predicting the short-term course of first- episode schizophrenia. Before their first episode of illness, schizophrenic subjects had fewer and less satisfactory social relationships than subjects with affective psychosis and a matched, normal comparison group. Nonfamily social resources were positively associated with good prognosis for both psychotic groups. While involvement with family members also predicted good prognosis among subjects with affective psychosis, family involvement had a negative association with outcome among schizophrenic subjects.