Optimal Network for Patients with Severe Mental Illness: A Social Network Analysis

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Abstract

It is still unclear what the optimal structure of mental health care networks should be. We examine whether certain types of network structure have been associated with improved continuity of care and greater social integration. A social network survey was carried out, covering 954 patients across 19 mental health networks in Belgium in 2014. We found continuity of care to be associated with large, centralized, and homophilous networks, whereas social integration was associated with smaller, centralized, and heterophilous networks. Two important goals of mental health service provision, continuity of care and social integration, are associated with different types of network. Further research is needed to ascertain the direction of this association.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)877-887
Number of pages11
JournalAdministration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
Volume44
Issue number6
Early online date24 Mar 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2017

Keywords

  • Optimal structure
  • Patients with psychiatric disorders
  • Referral network

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Cathie Marsh Institute

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