“Gender Differences In Psychopathology And Disability In Schizophrenia- A Cross Sectional Study”

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness disabiling each gender differently and affecting psychopathology in varied way. AIM: To study the gender differences and assess correlation in psychopathology and disability in patients with Schizophrenia. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted in out-patient department of a tertiary care hospital in patients diagnosed as Schizophrenia , according to ICD-10 .PANSS and IDEAS scales were applied on 70 participants of both sexes , between age group of 18-55 years. In the study, various clinical and socio-demographic variables were taken into account and were correlated with psychopathology separately for both sexes to assess the gender differences. RESULT: No statistically significant difference was found amongst both the genders with respect to the sociodemographic data and family history of psychiatry illness . Significant difference was seen in men presenting with negative symptoms , in contrast to no difference observed among genders with respect to positive and general psychopathology. Differences with respect to disability in interpersonal activities, communication and understanding skills in females were found , but no significant difference in both the genders were found with respect to self care and work skills. Positive correlation was found between duration of symptoms and duration of treatment with work in males , but not in females . CONCLUSION: Targeting the symptoms to reduce disability . Improving psychosocial interventions focusing on social and cognitive skills , along with socio-occupational rehabilitation needs attention.