The Relationship of Perceived Social Support with Level of Insight and Treatment Adherence in Individuals Diagnosed with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between perceived social support, insight, and treatment adherence in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with 110 individuals, including 55 bipolar and 55 schizophrenia patients, who had been hospitalized in our clinic in the last 1 year and were in remission. Participants were administered a sociodemographic and clinical data form, Young Mania Rating Scale (YMDÖ), Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI), Three Components of Insight Rating Scale (IÜBDÖ), Morisky Treatment Compliance Scale (MTUÖ) and Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS). Results: The mean age was 40.47±12.96 for bipolar patients and 40.45±11.71 for schizophrenics. Perceived family, friend, significant others support, and total support was found to be higher (p=0.000, p=0.000, p=0.004, p=0.000, respectively) of bipolar patients, and the highest support was perceived from family, followed by friends and significant people. Although the groups did not differ in terms of treatment adherence (p=0.083), the insight score was significantly higher in bipolar patients (p=0.001). Groups were evaluated with hierarchical regression analysis in terms of factors affecting perceived social support. Gender, years of education, insight, and treatment adherence were found to be predictive of social support (p=0.04, p=0.01, p<0.001, p=0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Informing caregivers (family, etc.) of bipolar and schizophrenic patients about the effect of social support on clinical outcome may reduce the burden of caregivers by contributing positively to insight and treatment compliance.

Keywords

• chronic mental illness
• perceived family support
• treatment