Resumo

GARCIA LABORDA, Ana  e  RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUEZ, Carlos. Network review by the mental health. Index Enferm [online]. 2005, vol.14, n.48-49, pp.46-49. ISSN 1699-5988.

In this article context we highlight the importance of family and personal relationships in the progress, development and treatment of persons who are in the care of us. These relationships may be formal or informal and they are a condition for a normal development. Methodological difficulties present at daily work are a handicap or an obstacle that may make difficult to have a clear and global view of contacts and relations of our patients. And we may have a difficulty for us to know what type of groups are better for the treatment, or what type of groups we can advise to be activated or not, as alcoholic groups for alcoholic people. Below we present concepts and basic instruments to be used by the nurse in a easy and practical way to represent both social network and individuals characteristics of the persons of the network, or at least those considered important by the professional. Our professional practice shows that this is a valuable instrument to represent in a clear way and concisely the social structure of the patient and his network relationships, and so it can make easier both psychological and social treatment, as the monitoring of his illness and the integration of the patient in the healthy networks.