Stability of sex differences by diagnosis in psychiatric hospitalizations

Abstract

We examined sex differences in the distribution of psychiatric diagnoses among hospitalized patients, controlling for socio-demographic variables. The sample included 1865 psychiatric inpatients consecutively admitted during a 9-year period. The finding of a higher proportion of men among patients hospitalized for schizophrenia or substance use disorder and a higher proportion of women among those admitted for affective disorders, including bipolar disorder, was stable over time. A better understanding of these differences may help to establish more effective treatment strategies.