Social Support and Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic, enduring and devastating disorder which is triggered by the heterogeneous and multifactorial risk factors. Social support is known to have a notable effect on the experience of distress. It is linked to lower prevalence of distress with reduced risk of onset of distress. The main concern of the researcher was to investigate social support level in schizophrenic and to see the relation with syndromes of schizophrenia and general psychopathology. Method: Through a survey design, three self-report tools were administered on 200 schizophrenic cases in Iran, using a self-report questionnaires (CAQ), Schizophrenia subscale of (MMPI-2), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score (PANSS) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), . Some subscales of MSPSS found significantly associated with schizophrenia and its syndrome. Gender differences did not revealed any significant differences between social support and schizophrenia and general psychopathology, but for positive and negative syndrome. Conclusion: schizophrenic people with different social support showing different syndrome and psychopathology. The finding of this research is to provide suggestions for minimizing the effect of schizophrenic conditions and to provide a better understanding and support for such a disorders.