Fifty-five patients who met criteria for serious mental illness nominated a relative with whom they had lived for at least the previous 6 months to be sent a questionnaire that included a scale for rating patients' contribution to family life in 10 specific areas. Thirty-six relatives returned completed questionnaires. Patients rated their own contributions using the same scale. Overall, relatives rated patients' contributions as positive, and their ratings of patients when well generally agreed with patients' self-ratings. For women only, relatives rated contributions as significantly less when the patient was ill. Patients' self-rated level of psychological symptoms was the best predictor of relatives' overall satisfaction with them. Ratings of patients' contributions mirrored sex-role stereotypes.