Abstract
This study examined whether oral dependent characteristics (as measured on the Rorschach) predispose patients to longer psychiatric hospitalizations. Results obtained on 75 voluntary psychiatric patients revealed that level of dependency predicted length of hospitalization for women but not for men. Reasons for the sex difference are discussed. Contrary to some speculation in the literature, findings showed no evidence of sexism in the provision of psychological services. Men and women had equivalent lengths of stay in the hospital, and treatment duration—no matter what the sex of the patient—did not vary as a function of sex of the primary therapist.