The role of perceived social support after psychiatric hospitalisation: Post hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a transitional intervention.

BACKGROUND: The association between social support, readmissions and psychopathology following discharge from psychiatric hospitals is not clear.

AIMS: To examine the prospective effects of perceived social support on rehospitalisation rates and psychopathology and to focus on the moderators of a transitional intervention.

METHOD: This post hoc analysis of a multisite randomised controlled trial included 151 patients with no more than three hospitalisations within the last 3 years, a Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score ≤60 and aged 18-64 years, assessed at two psychiatric hospitals from Zurich, Switzerland, between September 2011 and February 2014. Participants received either a transitional intervention aimed at improving social support during the transition from inpatient to outpatient care provided by a social worker or treatment as usual.

RESULTS: Lack of perceived social support at discharge significantly predicted subsequent rehospitalisation rates and increased psychopathological impairment across 12-month follow-up. Significant interaction effects between patient characteristics and the intervention on perceived social support comprised living at parent's home, having no children and being of younger age.

CONCLUSION: Perceived social support at discharge from inpatient care may reduce rehospitalisation rates and psychopathological impairment in the long term. A transitional intervention aimed at improving social support may negatively impact on the perceived social support in some patient groups.