Gender differences in treatment and outcome in a therapeutic community ward, with special reference to schizophrenic patients

This study examines gender differences in treatment and institutional outco me in a closed mixed-psychiatric ward functioning as a therapeutic communit y. Its first-time male (n = 784) and female (n = 741) patients were classif ied into five diagnostic categories according to criteria from the third re vised edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: schizophrenia, schizophreniform/schizoaffective disorder, other psychoses, mood disorders, and nonpsychotic disorders. There were no statistically si gnificant gender differences in sociodemographic variables either in the le ngth of stay or in the number of treatment episodes in this ward in any dia gnostic group. Differences in male and female participation in psychosocial therapies (individual, group, and milieu therapy) and in institutional out come were minimal, with a slight trend in favor of the females. These minim al gender differences indicate an achievement of the treatment goals, and o f achieving intergender equality. These goals are especially important for schizophrenic males due to their more severe clinical profile and poorer pr ognosis. With its greater degree of interaction and positive experiences, t he therapeutic community model may help psychotic male patients in facing t heir age- and gender-specific life-span challenges.