Characteristics of patients with schizophrenia in two cities in the U.S. and India

Gender-matched samples of patients with chronic schizophrenia were randomly selected from two metropolitan psychiatric emergency departments, one in Cincinnati, Ohio, (N = 47) and the other in Pune, India (N = 48). Severity and chronicity of symptoms in the two samples were comparable. Indian patients were significantly more likely to be married and employed than their American counterparts. In India most subjects were cared for by their families, whereas in the U.S. the community mental health network assumed major responsibility for care. Compliance with prescribed antipsychotic medications was significantly greater in India than in the U.S.