Abstract Background Suicidal experiences (e.g. suicidal thoughts, plans, urges, compulsions, images, acts, attempts) are common in the early stages of psychosis and represent a global healthcare concern. As well as hallucinations and delusions, psychosis is associated with difficulties in forming interpersonal relationships, causing isolation, disconnectedness, and significant psychological distress. This systematic literature review aimed to examine the effects of perceptions of offline and online social connectedness and disconnectedness on suicidal experiences in people with recent onset psychosis. We proposed a Social Connectedness and Disconnectedness (SoCaD) conceptual framework comprising six domains which guided the analytic process. Methods A convergent, sequential explanatory approach to analysis was used. Fourteen studies were included from four electronic databases (i.e. PsycInfo, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science). The study screening and quality assessment procedures were checked by an independent researcher. Results Findings pertaining to five SoCaD domains were identified: 1. Supportive relationships with others; 2. Social identity and purpose; 3. A sense of belonging; 4. Perceived social value; and 5. A sense of mattering to others. No studies were identified that specifically examined experiences and perceptions of social connectedness or disconnectedness in the context of online social media activity and communication. This represents a substantial gap in the evidence. Discussion Overall, only a few studies made a useful contribution to better understanding the relationships between social connectedness and disconnectedness, recent onset psychosis, and suicidal experiences. Future research should methodically examine domains of social connectedness and disconnectedness across offline and online contexts and focus on context-specific understanding of these social dynamics to enhance suicide prevention strategies in this vulnerable population. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
Harris et al. (Wed,) studied this question.