First admissions for schizophrenia to inpatient psychiatric services in Ireland are declining. The reason for this decline has been debated and it has been proposed that it could be attributable to either a decline in incidence or to policy changes or to both.

Objectives: This study examines the trends in first admission numbers for schizophrenia in Ireland and the influence of gender and marital status on age at first admission over the time period 1971-2004.

Method: Data were derived from the National Psychiatric Inpatient Recording System (NPIRS) for the years 1971-2004 inclusive. All first admissions with a diagnosis of schizophrenia during these years were included in the analysis.

Results: The results showed a significant decline in the number of first admissions with the number of first admissions for males exceeding those for females. The average age of first admission was higher for females than males (p < 0.001). The average age of first admission showed a decline for males (p < 0.001), but not for females. Marital status was a stronger predictor of age of admission than gender (p < 0.001). Never married persons had a lower age of first admission than those married and the delaying effect of marriage on age at first admission was evident in males and females (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: An examination of first admission hospital data confirm male disadvantage in schizophrenia. The study highlighted a number of areas for future research which include examining gender differences in more refined diagnostic sub groups of schizophrenia and the monitoring of first contacts with community-based mental health services.