Sex and Mental Disorder: A Reappraisal

Abstract

Abstract Over the last decade, sociological research on sex and mental illness has found that females have higher rates of mental disorder. Work in this area is critically reviewed and methodological problems are identified These problems may lead to underestimating mental illness among males. Consequently, conclusions about relative rates of mental disorder between the sexes should be reexamined. Recent utilization data on first admissions to public mental hospitals are presented Contrary to most work in the field, it is argued that mental illness among males, relative to females, has increased dramatically.