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Schizophrenia in men: The impact on their wives

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Sequential development of wives' attitude changes was reviewed from their husbands' first hospital admission through typical regression in chronic schizophrenia.

  2. 2.

    Seven categories representing the wives' response to their husbands' illness were recognized and described covering the range from Acceptance through Ambivalence to Rejection.

  3. 3.

    The appearance of ambivalent feelings in the wife is often the first sign of impending rejection.

  4. 4.

    Approximately one-half of the wives of patients on one ward were rated as having rejected their husbands by Intellectual or Physical Avoidance techniques, usually ending in divorce or separation.

  5. 5.

    The reactions of these wives seem best explained as rational coping behavior.

  6. 6.

    Some difficulties specific to wives of chronic schizophrenics were discussed.

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Bibliography

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterans Administration Hospital, 14424, Canandaigua, New York

    Roy Johnston Ph.D. & Karel Planansky M.D., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Roy Johnston Ph.D.
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  2. Karel Planansky M.D., Ph.D.
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Johnston, R., Planansky, K. Schizophrenia in men: The impact on their wives. Psych Quar 42, 146–155 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01563960

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01563960

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