Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess differences between men and women with the diagnosis of schizophrenia at the level of social functioning using the multi-axial ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) system. Physisicians taking care of psychotic inpatients at the Dept.of Psych, University Hospital in Hradec Králové routinely filled in the multi-axial ICD-10 questionnaire at discharge.
We obtained data on 98 patients (women 44) with schizophrenia (62) or schizoaffective disorder (36) at the average age of 38,7 years, with a median duration of the illness of 11 years. Men as opposed to women with schizophrenia showed more disability, more impaired self-care, broader social behaviour, legal domain and working ability (P<0.05;chi-square test).
No gender differeces were found in schizoaffective patients (chi-square test).The results emphasize the importance of social skills as a prognostic factor in schizophrenia.