Perception of the social support role of the extended family network by some Nigerians with schizophrenia and affective disorders

Enquiries into patients' perception of psychosocial support from families should help objectively to identify the strengths and needs of families with sick members, in order to enhance management. The aim of this study was to identify the categories of relatives in the extended family whom a sample of Nigerian psychiatric patients perceived as having provided material, social and emotional support, and the factors associated with these perceptions. 123 schizophrenics and 31 patients with major affective disorders attending out-patient clinics were interviewed. Using operational definitions of family member (i.e. tendency to confide in and expect support from a relative), it appears that the size of extended family network that was mostly relied upon for support was five, including parents, full siblings, uncles/aunts, first cousins and in-laws. There were no significant differences in summary scores of family size and social support between the two illness groups. Age and duration of illness were significantly negatively correlated with perception of supports. The size of family network with whom patients interacted was predicted by tendency to confide in members, and emotional support. The findings indicate that the presumed support of the extended family should not negate the need to strengthen the resources of the nuclear family, in order to provide a focus for attraction and deployment of materials needed for the effective care of patients.