title: Gender differences in outcomes in people with schizophrenia in rural China: 14-year follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about gender differences in the long-term outcomes of people with schizophrenia living in the community.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore gender differences in the 14-year outcome of people with schizophrenia in rural China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 14-year follow-up study among a 1994 cohort (n = 510) of participants with schizophrenia was conducted in Xinjin County, Chengdu, China. All participants and their informants were followed up in 2004 and 2008 using the Patients Follow-up Schedule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with female participants, male participants were significantly younger, had significantly higher rates of mortality, suicide and homelessness, and poorer family and social support. There was no significant gender difference in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores, previous suicide attempts, those never treated, previous hospital admission or inability to work. Longer duration of illness was associated with functional decline and comparatively poorer family economic status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The long-term outcomes of men with schizophrenia is worse than those of women with the disorder in rural China. Higher mortality, suicide and homelessness rates in men may contribute partly to the higher prevalence of schizophrenia in women in China. Policies on social and family support and gender-specific intervention strategies for improving long-term outcomes should be developed for people with this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Mao-Sheng Ran, MMed, PhD, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong; Wen-Jun Mao, MD, Chengdu Mental Health Centre, Chengdu, China; Cecilia Lai-Wan Chan, PhD, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Eric Yu-Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Yeates Conwell, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Mao-Sheng
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.affiliation: Mao-Sheng Ran, MMed, PhD, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong; Wen-Jun Mao, MD, Chengdu Mental Health Centre, Chengdu, China; Cecilia Lai-Wan Chan, PhD, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Eric Yu-Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Yeates Conwell, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Wen-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Mao-Sheng Ran, MMed, PhD, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong; Wen-Jun Mao, MD, Chengdu Mental Health Centre, Chengdu, China; Cecilia Lai-Wan Chan, PhD, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Eric Yu-Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Yeates Conwell, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Cecilia Lai-Wan
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Mao-Sheng Ran, MMed, PhD, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong; Wen-Jun Mao, MD, Chengdu Mental Health Centre, Chengdu, China; Cecilia Lai-Wan Chan, PhD, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Eric Yu-Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Yeates Conwell, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Eric Yu-Hai
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Mao-Sheng Ran, MMed, PhD, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong; Wen-Jun Mao, MD, Chengdu Mental Health Centre, Chengdu, China; Cecilia Lai-Wan Chan, PhD, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Eric Yu-Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Yeates Conwell, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Yeates
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Conwell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data