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Social relationships and functioning are core to human experience and health but affected by dementia and mental illness. We study the causes of social functioning impairment and evaluate treatments.
Social relationships and functioning - meaning interactions within social activities, work and relationships with partners and family, and satisfaction with these - are fundamental aspects of human experience, key determinants of physical, mental, and cognitive health, and key markers of good quality health and social care. However, mental illnesses including depression, anxiety and psychosis, and cognitive disorders and dementia cause difficulties for people to maintain social relationships and functioning, and can increase loneliness.
Several researchers in UCL Division of Psychiatry have expertise in social functioning and relationships. Our studies investigate the nature of social relationships and functioning in older adults and how these are affected by dementia and mental disorders, and develop and evaluate treatments aiming to improve social functioning. We also have experience in developing novel approaches to measuring social functioning in research and clinical settings.