The Relationship between Social Support and Severity of Symptoms among patients with Schizophrenia

Background: Schizophrenia is severe and long lasting mental disorder which results in negative functional, behavioral and social consequences.When it comes to social engagement, those with schizophrenia confront greater challenges than the general population.The prognosis and treatment of schizophrenia are thought to be greatly influenced by the social support that patients get.The study aims to assess the relationship between social support and symptoms severity among patients with schizophrenia.Subjects and method: With a sample of 33 schizophrenia patients hospitalized to Mansoura University Hospital's Psychiatry Inpatient Department, a descriptive cross-sectional study design was used.Data was collected using three instruments: the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and sociodemographic variables and clinical data sheet.Results: The study's findings showed that over one-third (45.5%) of the patients were in the 30 to under 45 years old age range.Male patients who were unemployed and resided in rural areas made up more than half (57.6%) of the patients in the study.Over one-third (36.4%) of the patients in the study were either uneducated or capable of reading and writing.In relation to marital status, over one-third (36.4%) of the patients in the research were single and 30.3% of them were divorced.Concerning illness duration, more than one-third (36.4%) of the patients in the study stated that they had been ill for five to more than ten years and 45.5% had been hospitalized three or more times.More than two thirds (66.7%) of the participants in the study showed low social support.Conclusion: According to recent research, there is relationship between social support and severity of symptoms among patients with schizophrenia.Recommendation: further studies are needed to examine the relation between social support and severity of symptoms among schizophrenic patients.The intervention to improve social support needs more research.