Personal networks of ex-mental patients in a Manhattan SRO hotel

Abstract

This paper describes the results of the first systematic investigation of ex-mental patients residing in a large Manhattan Single Room Occupancy hotel. Utilizing a "Network Profile" questionnaire, personal interviews, and participant observation, the study focuses on the relationship of social networks to the degree of personality disturbance and the chances of remaining in a nonhospitalized environment. The findings indicate that: (1) schizophrenics have significantly fewer numbers of personal contacts than nonpsychotics; however, even the most impaired schizophrenics are not totally isolated; (2) within the schizophrenic spectrum, there are differences regarding network size, multiplexity, directionality of relationships, and degree of connectedness; these findings are correlated with the ability of schizophrenics with minimal residual deficits to become important members of the hotel community; (3) small, nonmultiplex networks with a low degree of connectedness are correlated with more frequent rehospitalizations.