Gender differences in patients with schizophrenia and substance abuse

Co-occurring substance abuse is common among people with chronic mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. Although gender differences have been established among substance abusers in the general population and among people with schizophrenia, little is known about gender differences in people with the dual disorders of schizophrenia and substance abuse. This study examines gender differences in 37 women and 135 men with dual disorders, and finds many differences consistent with those found in people with single disorders: dually diagnosed women had more social contact and fewer legal problems but greater problems with victimization and medical illness compared with dually diagnosed men. Unexpectedly, men and women had similar courses and severities of substance abuse. These findings may be critical in planning effective services that explicitly address women's family and social needs, issues related to victimization, and high rates of medical illness.