A Review on Depression, Suicidal Behavior and Social Support in Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population, typically starting in early adulthood and causing disturbances in an individual's emotions, behaviors, and cognitive processes. It is one of the psychiatric disorders associated with a high risk of mortality. Depression, stigma, psychotic symptoms, and lack of social support are factors that can increase the risk of suicide among individuals with schizophrenia. The presence of comorbid depressive symptoms in schizophrenia patients not only leads to a significant decrease in their quality of life but also has negative effects on the course and outcome of the illness. Individuals suffering from this condition may face social isolation, stigmatization, and consequently, they may be deprived of social support and become distant from their social support systems due to the extreme abnormalities and deviations caused by the illness. Social support refers to the various forms of support individuals receive from their social environment, including attention, information, love, and appreciation. Social support networks play a crucial role as a protective factor for individuals with schizophrenia, positively influencing their motivation, mortality rates, and ability to cope with stressful events, as well as facilitating their integration into society by preventing social isolation. Within the framework of a social support network, the presence of various support systems such as family, relatives, friends, support groups, and healthcare professionals is vital as a supportive factor in the treatment process, contributing to the improvement of patients' recovery process and adherence to treatment. Therefore, it is important to identify risk factors and evaluate the significance of protective factors. This research aims to identify the potential risk factors associated with depressive symptoms, suicide risk, and the social support network in schizophrenia patients and investigate the importance of protective factors.