Schizophrenia Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues

Schizophrenia Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues

 

A number of features distinguish the clinical expression of schizophrenia in females and males. The general incidence of schizophrenia tends to be slightly lower in females, particularly among treated cases. The age at onset is later in females, with a second mid-life peak( Abel et al. 2010 ) as described earlier (see the section “Development and Course” for this disorder). Symptoms tend to be more affect-laden among females, and there are more psychotic symptoms, as well as a greater propensity for psychotic symptoms to worsen in later life( Abel et al. 2010 ). Other symptom differences include less frequent negative symptoms and disorganization. Finally, social functioning tends to remain better preserved in females. There are, however, frequent exceptions to these general caveats.