Social networks of patients with chronic depression: A systematic review

The social networks of patients are an important factor for the prognosis of mental disorders and can be potentially targeted through psycho-social interventions. We aimed to explore these networks in patients with chronic depression, by conducting a systematic review on the characteristics of social networks in this patient group.

Six databases, three key journals and grey literature were searched. Two reviewers screened the articles, assessed the risk of bias and extracted the information needed. Findings were descriptively synthesised.

Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria reporting the findings of a total of 873 patients with chronic depression. Four papers presented results without a comparison group (six in comparison to a healthy population, eight to patients with non-chronic major depression and three to patients with other mental disorders). Social networks of patients with chronic depression appeared to be smaller than those of healthy individuals, patients with non-chronic major depression and other disorders.

Studies used different concepts of chronic depression and inconsistent methodologies for assessing social networks. Only three studies adopted objective measures.

Whilst the evidence on social networks of patients with chronic depression is limited, the networks appear smaller than in most comparison groups, including patients with non-chronic depression.