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Life Events and Schizophrenia

A Saudi Arabian Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

M. A. F. Al Khani ,
P. E. Bebbington ,
J. P. Watson  and
F. House
M. A. F. Al Khani
Affiliation:
Medical College, King Saud University, PO Box 15102, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
P. E. Bebbington*
Affiliation:
MRC Social Psychiatry Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
J. P. Watson
Affiliation:
United Medical Schools (Guy's Campus), London SE1 9RT
F. House
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, United Medical Schools (Guy's Campus), London SE1 9RT
*
Correspondence
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Abstract

Using an Arabic version of the PSE, supplemented by CATEGO, we selected 48 patients with acute schizophrenia from the population of the Najd region of Saudi Arabia. Their life-event histories for the six months before onset or relapse were compared with those of 62 control subjects. A postive association between events and onset was established only for married women, although there was a parallel trend for men and single women suffering their first schizophrenic episode. The observed impact of life events was limited to the three weeks before onset. These findings are discussed in the light of Saudi culture.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 148 , Issue 1 , January 1986 , pp. 12 - 22
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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