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Social class and schizophrenia in a Dutch cohort

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

D. Wiersma*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychiatry, State University of Groningen, The Netherlands
R. Giel
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychiatry, State University of Groningen, The Netherlands
A. De Jong
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychiatry, State University of Groningen, The Netherlands
C. J. Slooff
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychiatry, State University of Groningen, The Netherlands
*
1Address of correspondence: Dr D. Wiersma, Academisch Ziekenhuis, Sociale Psychiatric, Oostersingel 59, 9713 EZ Groningen, The Netherlands.

Synopsis

Recent data from a 2-year follow-up of functional non-affective psychosis, and particularly schizophrenia, favoured social selection rather than social causation theory. Data concerning the cohort were compared with inter- and intra-generational mobility in a random Dutch sample. The results indicate that the educational and occupational mobility of patients, relative to their fathers, was greater than expected. Although patients were better educated than the random sample, they fared less well occupationally. An analysis of patterns of occupational mobility before and after the onset of psychosis also showed that social selection played a major role in achieving social status. The outcome of patients' occupational career at follow-up was poor, and only a minority succeeded in obtaining or keeping a regular job.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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