摘要: Brown, Bhrolchain & Harris (1975) have found that intimate social relationship may afford some protection against the onset of depressive illness in women. Our investigation involved 337 subjects sampled from list one general practice. Half had consulted their doctor within previous 7 days and half not. It examined association between support severity psychological physical symptoms. The symptoms were tiredness, anxiety, depression irritability; backache, headache, palpitations, dizziness breathlessness. Social assessed a home interview. results supported those Brown et al. showing women reporting lack an confidant significantly greater than reported by more adequately counterparts. However, contrast to al., we observed absence many casual, less friends was also associated with higher symptom levels (both psychological). discrepancy might arise because few our suffering severe psychiatric illness. clear for men but showed same trends.