Gender, family environment and schizophrenia

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between patient's gender and family environment, and the consequences of this for the course of treatment of schizophrenia. Data for 160 DSM-III schizophrenics and a family member were obtained regarding attitudes towards treatment, tolerance of symptomatic deviance, and one-year rehospitalization and lengths of hospital stay. Findings suggest that ill sons may be sent to hospital more often and remain in hospital longer than ill daughters, in part due to social norms and expectations of parents associated with gender.