Mental Illness in 30 Married Couples3

Diagnostic characteristics, personality pattern and certain psychosocial variables of 30 married couples where both partners were mentally ill (group A) were compared with the findings with another group of 30 couples where only one partner was psychiatric patient (Group B). Results revealed that couples in the Group A had significantly longer duration of marriage as compared to Group B. Significantly higher number of pairs in the Group A were from the higher socio-economic status. Nearly two third of the secondary partners (those developing illness later) in the Group A were wives. Primary partners of Group A (those developing illness earlier) had a significantly longer duration of illness than the sick spouses of Group B.