THE DIFFERENCES OF CHARACTERISTICS BETWEEN GENDERS INPATIENTS WITH FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS AT SOMDET CHAOPRAYA INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRY

Abstract

Objective: To study the differences of characteristics between male and female patients with first episode psychosis at Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry.   Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytic study. The samples were recruited from medical record forms of patients whom were diagnosed of psychosis and came to treatment for the first time in year 2013 at Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry. Demographic data, age at onset of psychosis, duration of untreated psychosis, psychotic symptoms, substance use, actual diagnosis, treatment profiles such as dose and type of antipsychotics including other medication treatment, duration of first admission and duration of follow up were collected. Data were analyzed by Independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test.   Results: Of all 342 samples, there were 194 male patients (56.7%). We found that the differences in characteristics between male and female patients with first episode psychosis were age of onset, occupational status, marital status, medical illness, substance use, actual diagnosis, violent behaviors and self-harm, depressive symptoms, antidepressant use, initial dose of anxiolytics and number of following up, statistically significant (p-value <0.05).   Conclusion: There were statistically differences in characteristics between male and female patients with first episode psychosis. These data told us that it may be useful to differentiate the management plan for different gender. The intervention should also be given appropriately for each sex as well.