An investigation into the fertility rates of mentally ill patients

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Abstract
SUMMARY: An investigation into celibacy and reproduction rates of 187 male and 203 female mentally ill patients has been described. Comparisons were made between patients and their sibs. Two control populations were used1. Figures taken from the Registrar General's Reports.2. An independent population drawn from the medical and surgical wards of Paddington General Hospital.The mean ages of onset were calculated. The marital states and reproduction rates of all patients and controls were considered. It was found that the celibacy rate of patients was more than 50 % above that in the general population and almost as much above that of the independent control population, at least for the schizophrenic diseases. It was found that a fairly large group of patients (forty‐eight males and twenty females) designated as ‘Atypical’resembled the schizophrenic groups very closely in mean age of onset and low marriage and reproductive rates.The number of children per marriage of patients was a good deal below, and the percentage of childless marriages a good deal above, that of the control population.There was evidence of assortative mating.I am grateful to the Medical Research Council for their financial support. I also wish to express my thanks to the Medical Superintendents of Horton, Paddington and St Bernard's Hospitals who permitted me to interview their patients. My special thanks are due to Drs B. A. J. C. Gregory, H. R. Rollin, L. W. Russell and P. J. F. Walsh who generously gave their time and opinions.