Logo image
Social Disconnection in Schizophrenia and the General Community
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Social Disconnection in Schizophrenia and the General Community

Michael F Green, William P Horan, Junghee Lee, Amanda McCleery, L Felice Reddy and Jonathan K Wynn
Schizophrenia bulletin, Vol.44(2), pp.242-249
02/15/2018
DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbx082
PMCID: PMC5814840
PMID: 28637195
url
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5814840/View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Social disability is a defining characteristic of schizophrenia and a substantial public health problem. It has several components that are difficult to disentangle. One component, social disconnection, occurs extensively in the general community among nonhelp-seeking individuals. Social disconnection is an objective, long-standing lack of social/family relationships and minimal participation in social activities. It is associated with negative health effects, including early mortality, and is distinct from subjective loneliness. These 2 topics, social disability in schizophrenia and social disconnection in the general community, have generated entirely distinct research literatures that differ in their respective knowledge gaps and emphases. Specifically, the consequences of social disability in schizophrenia are unknown but its determinants (ie, nonsocial cognition, social cognition, and social motivation) have been well-examined. Conversely, the health consequences of social disconnection in the general community are well-established, but the determinants are largely unknown. Social disconnection is a condition that presents substantial public health concerns, exists within and outside of current psychiatric diagnostic boundaries, and may be related to the schizophrenia spectrum. A comparison of these 2 literatures is mutually informative and it generates intriguing research questions that can be critically evaluated.
Schizoid Personality Disorder - physiopathology Schizophrenia - physiopathology Humans Middle Aged Adult Female Male Social Isolation Social Skills Schizotypal Personality Disorder - physiopathology

Details

Logo image