Social dysfunction and mental illness in a community sample.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of the association between psychiatric disorders and various social problems. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule was administered to a community sample of 3258 individuals and the association between eight "core" psychiatric disorders and eight social problem behaviours was determined. The results confirmed findings from many clinical studies that had previously found a strong relationship between social problem behaviours and mental illness. However, certain disorders tended to be associated with specific problems. In addition, a positive association was found between the number of social problems exhibited and the prevalence of psychiatric disorder. These data suggest the presence of a common underlying factor (or factors) and call into question the common practice of creating separate services for each definable social problem that arises.