Evaluating services for women with serious and ongoing mental health problems: developing an appropriate research method

Despite an increase in the literature on women with less disabling or transitory mental health problems, there is little relating to women with serious and ongoing difficulties. In considering the means by which the needs of this population might be studied, tension arises over methodology. Research comparing the clinical, functional and service use characteristics of women and men might demonstrate their different mental health problems but would neither elucidate women's particular needs nor examine the social reasons for this difference. A feminist methodology would, however, offer a means of exploring the experiences of women, a framework for understanding sex differences, and generate findings that would be beneficial to women. The present study gives an insight into ways in which the exploration of sex differences can be combined with a study of women for women without compromising the relevance and impact of the findings.