title: Gender differences in characteristics and service use of public mental health patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: The study examined gender differences in sociodemographic, clinical, and mental health service use variables among patients with schizophrenia in a public mental health care system. Data from 1999 to 2000 for 4975 adult patients were analyzed. Women were older and more likely to be married and to have Medicaid insurance and less likely to have a diagnosis of substance abuse than men. More women were living independently, whereas more men resided in assisted living facilities or were homeless. Women were significantly more likely to have had a psychiatric hospitalization than men, which may be related to differential use of services by men and women with the worst level of functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA. llindamer@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Laurie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lindamer
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hawthorne
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Folsom
authors.forename: Todd P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Gilmer
authors.forename: Piedad
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hough
authors.forename: Dilip V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Jeste
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D017150:Public Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data