[Do schizophrenic psychoses lead to a reversal of sex-specific role behavior? Results of an explorative study].

Some findings reported in literature suggest a reversal of sex-specific role behavior in schizophrenic patients. To test this hypothesis, a secondary analysis of the psychopathological status documented in the charts of first admitted schizophrenic patients was carried out. The patients came from a defined geographical region. Operationalized diagnostic criteria were applied. The influence of confounding variables was controlled. Our findings do not support the hypothesized sex-specific role enactment reversal. Schizophrenic men and women showed far more similarities than differences which were, contrary to our expectations, in agreement with general sex-dependent behavioral patterns and in no way specific for schizophrenia.