[Comparative study of the needs of patients with schizophrenia by gender].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the gender differences in the needs of the people with schizophrenia who live in the community.


METHODS
We randomly selected 231 patients with schizophrenia who were receiving treatment in one of the five mental health care centres that participated in the study. Patients were evaluated with a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Positive and Negative Syndromes Scale (PANSS) and Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN) questionnaire. The CAN evaluate 22 needs, that we could be grouped into five subscales: service needs, basic needs, functioning need, health needs and social needs. All needs were evaluated by the professional and the user independently.


RESULTS
Professionals detected more needs in men than in women, but users did not report such difference. Both professionals and users detected more service needs for women (p< 0.005) and more basic needs for men (p< 0,01-0.005). Only professionals detected more functioning needs in men (p< 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Professionals detect more needs than users and detect more needs for men than for women. Women have less needs in food, personal care, home care, and daily activities. These gender differences should be taken into account when designing treatment programs for schizophrenia.
Ochoa
S
S
Unidad de Formación y Docencia. San Juan de Dios-SSM. Sant Boi de Llobregat (Barcelona). susana.ocho@lettera.net
Usall
J
J
Haro
J M
JM
Araya
S
S
Autonell
J
J
Busquets
E
E
Gost
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires