Post-hospitalization treatment adherence of schizophrenic patients: gender differences in skill acquisition

A cohort of acutely ill, hospitalized patients with chronic psychotic disorders participated in a study of a manualized community reintegration skills training program. Initial data analyses revealed that skill levels improved significantly over the course of treatment, and that higher post-training skill levels were associated with better post-discharge functioning for the group as a whole. Post-discharge treatment adherence rates were dramatically better in females, and analyses were conducted to determine the role of gender. Males and females had different predictors of post-training skill level and post-discharge treatment adherence. In males, who as a group were at higher risk for poor post-discharge outcome, there was a positive association between post-training skill level and post-discharge treatment adherence. Females, on the other hand, showed good post-discharge treatment adherence regardless of post-training skill or symptom levels. This report is consistent with prior studies suggesting that male and female individuals with schizophrenia show differential patterns of social skill, skill improvement, and social adjustment.