Although there have been many cross-sectional studies of the relationships between social support and level of functioning for individuals with psychotic disorders, there have been few reported prospective studies.

To examine the importance of social support early in the treatment of individuals with a psychotic disorder as a predictor of functional status at five year follow-up.

Social support of 132 patients with a psychotic disorder was assessed at the time of entry into treatment and one year later. Five year functional outcomes were assessed using the General Assessment of Function (GAF), number of weeks of full-time occupation and weeks on a disability pension during the fourth and fifth year of follow-up.

Social functioning assessed at initiation of treatment and at one year were significant predictors of general functioning, use of disability pension and full-time occupation at five year follow-up. This relationship was independent of other predictors such as gender, age of onset, treatment delay and early symptoms.

Level of social support is an independent predictor of five year outcome for patients at early stages of treatment of psychosis. These findings provide further evidence the probable value of interventions that increase supportiveness of the social environment of those with psychotic disorders.