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Schizophrenic Patients and their Families a Survey in a Psychiatric service based on a DGH Unit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

J. S. Gibbons ,
S. H. Horn ,
J. M. Powell  and
J. L. Gibbons
J. S. Gibbons
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work Studies, University of Southampton, Southampton SO9 5NH
S. H. Horn
Affiliation:
Southampton University Department of Psychiatry
J. M. Powell
Affiliation:
Southampton University Department of Psychiatry
J. L. Gibbons
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Southampton, Royal South Hants Hospital, Graham Rd., Southampton SO9 4PE
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Summary

We identified the population of schizophrenic patients under 65 in a geographically defined area. The number using psychiatric services based on a new District General Hospital unit in the course of one year was 364, a prevalence of 2.2 per 1000 adult population. Half the patients lived in supportive private households, most often with spouses or mothers. More women than men married and retained supporters. Patients and their primary supporters were interviewed separately. The PSE Catego programme classed 47 per cent of patients as psychotic. Supporters reported disturbed behaviour in 65 per cent of patients, and restricted social performance in 78 per cent. There was evidence of hardship (emotional and physical ill-health, problems with children) in 90 per cent of households. Supporters' subjective distress was directly related to the presence of psychosis and disturbed behaviour and inversely related to the duration of the illness. Drop-out and failure to take medication appeared to be causes of the relatively high prevalence of psychosis.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 144 , Issue 1 , January 1984 , pp. 70 - 77
Copyright
Copyright © 1984 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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