[Social relations and social support of psychiatric patients--a network study]

24 mentally ill patients were interviewed about social networks and social support systems. The number of network members was 25.7 persons on average, most of them were other mentally ill people themselves (34%) or health professionals (20%). Contacts between mentally ill people were characterised by sympathy for each other, short lasting relationship and little support function. Health professionals have quite different functions for our patients depending on their professional role. Emotional support (which is seen as the most important support function by our patients) is given mainly by psychologists and social workers. Very little support comes from psychiatrists and general practitioners.