Gender differences in premorbid social adjustment and intimacy motivation in schizophrenia

Abstract

The present study compared the relationship between motivation for intimacy and level of premorbid adjustment for men and women with schizophrenia. A sample of 34 schizophrenic patients (14 male and 20 female) were studied. Stories told in response to six TAT cards were scored for Intimacy Motivation (IM). Levels of Premorbid adjustment (PA) and Asociality (ASOC) were assessed. A statistically significant interaction between gender and level of PA indicated that males with good PA had higher IM than those with poorer whereas females with good PA had lower IM than females with poor PA. The same interaction was obtained for the measure of ASOC. Findings are discussed in relation to sociocultural expectations for women. Some implications for differential treatment needs of male and female schizophrenics are suggested.

Premorbid adjustment in first-episode non-affective psychosis: Distinct patterns of pre-onset course

“…Other studies report overall mean scores (Levitt et al , 1996), but most studies select items for certain dimensions. For example, Hien et al (1998) combined the items measuring social functioning to calculate an overall (mean) social dimension score. In another study the items for social withdrawal and peer relationships were summed to a single dimension (‘peers’), and the same was done for school functioning and school performance (‘school’) (Fennig et al , 1995).…”

“…This study is the first to subtype premorbid functioning in a longitudinal manner. Hien et al (1998) used the median to split the sample into good and poor adjustment, but no longitudinal measure was considered.…”

Sex differences in schizophrenia, a review of the literature

“…Seeman (350) noted with respect to psychodynamic issues, men in their clinic discussed con¯icts centered around autonomy and dependence, but women spoke more about sexual fantasies and concerns (delusional, real or transferential). The authors attributed these differences to the maturational age at which the individual became psychotic, women generally having passed the psychological milestone of autonomy, and moved to greater concerns about sexuality and love by the time they become ill. Hien et al (351) found the level of premorbid adjustment predicted different levels of intimacy motivation in schizophrenic men versus women. In men, premorbid adjustment was positively associated with intimacy motivation but in women premorbid adjustment was negatively associated.…”

Gender differences in one‐year outcomes of first‐presentation psychosis patients in inner‐city UK Early Intervention Services

“…Lower social competence is associated with negative symptoms as well as co‐morbid cannabis use problems, homelessness and involvement in crime, especially for men with a diagnosis of schizophrenia . As a result, men may show less motivation to engage with treatment and a lack of insight for their illness even at discharge . These may delay treatment and destabilize the patient's condition, leading to a poorer prognosis, particularly in men with acute schizophrenia, whereas women tend to form a ‘suicidal‐depressive‐insightful’ subgroup characterized by shorter DUP and better cognitive performance …”