Relatives and depressive relapse: the critical period after discharge from in-patient treatment

In a sample of 60 remitted depressed in-patients, the power of three basic parameters of the social support network--Kin Support Network Size; Non-kin Support Network Size; and Satisfaction with Support--to predict depressive symptom levels seven months after discharge was examined. The results suggest that even positive, supportive family relationships can have a distinctly detrimental effect, and that a depressed in-patient's return to his or her family represents a crucial period for the further course of the disorder. The findings are discussed with respect to the social support literature and the 'Expressed Emotion' concept. It is held that neither paradigm provides an adequate explanation, and alternative mediating mechanisms are suggested.