Gender Differences among Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors:
M. Hůlková; L. Hosák
Authors‘ workplace:
Psychiatrická klinika LF UK a FN, Hradec Králové
; přednosta prof. MUDr. J. Libiger, CSc.
1
Published in:
Čes. a slov. Psychiat., 105, 2009, No. 2, pp. 61-67.
Category:
Original Article
Overview
Introduction:
Although some differences between men and women with schizophrenia in prognosis or treatment response have been already described, the gender differences have not been explored sufficiently. The aim of the study was to assess differences between men and women with the diagnosis of schizophrenia at the level of social functioning using the multi-axial ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) system.
Methods:
Physicians taking care of psychotic inpatients at the Dept. of Psychiatry, University Hospital in Hradec Králové routinely filled in the multi-axial ICD-10 questionnaire at discharge. We retrospectively analyzed data on patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder collected at the Psychiatric Clinic during a 30-month period and used them for a survey of gender differences in life.
Results:
We obtained data on 98 patients (women 44) with schizophrenia (62) or schizoaffective disorder (36) at the average age of 38.7 years, with a median duration of the illness of 11 years. Men as opposed to women with schizophrenia showed more disability, more impaired self-care, broader social behaviour, legal domain and working ability (P<0.05; chi-square test). No gender differences were found in schizoaffective patients (chi-square test).
Conclusion:
The results emphasize the importance of social skills as a prognostic factor in schizophrenia. This can be used in gender-specific social rehabilitation and further research.
Key words:
gender differences, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, gender, ICD-10, social functioning, disability.
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Labels
Addictology Paediatric psychiatry PsychiatryArticle was published in
Czech and Slovak Psychiatry
2009 Issue 2
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