Table 1 Summary of characteristics of included studies
Condition studied | Predictor variable | Outcomes | Sample size range (median) | Length of follow-upa | Follow-up rate range (median) | Quality score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Depression (n = 23) | Perceived social support (n = 22) Loneliness (n = 1) | Symptom severity (n = 13) Recovery/remission (n = 7) Functional outcomes (n = 5) | 66–604 (239) | Short (n = 4) Medium (n = 14) Long (n = 5) | 60.6–100% (81.9%) | **** (n = 4) *** (n = 11) ** (n = 8) |
Schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorders (n = 2) | Perceived social support (n = 2) | Functional outcomes (n = 2) | 139–148 (143.5) | Medium (n = 2) | 71.9–100% (86.0%) | *** (n = 1) ** (n = 1) |
Bipolar disorder (n = 4) | Perceived social support (n = 4) | Symptom severity (n = 3) Recovery/remission (n = 2) Functional outcomes (n = 2) | 42–173 (55.5) | Short (n = 1) Medium (n = 3) | 71.1–100% (86.4%) | *** (n = 2) ** (n = 2) |
Anxiety disorders (n = 3) | Perceived social support (n = 3) | Symptom severity (n = 1) Recovery/remission (n = 1) Functional outcomes (n = 1) | 134–1004 (1004) | Short (n = 1) Medium (n = 2) | 80–87% (81.0%) | **** (n = 1) *** (n = 1) ** (n = 1) |
Mixed samples with various mental health problems (n = 2) | Perceived social support (n = 1) Loneliness (n = 1) | Symptom severity (n = 1) Functional outcomes (n = 1) | 352–743 (547.5) | Medium (n = 2) | 79.9–84.4% (82.2%) | *** (n = 1) ** (n = 1) |