Gender and Schizophrenia

What are the important gender differences seen in men and women with schizophrenia? Although schizophrenia affects men and women with equal frequency, the illness is expressed differently between the sexes. Women with schizophrenia tend to have better premorbid functioning, a later age at onset, a distinct symptom profile and better course of illness, and different structural brain abnormalities and cognitive deficits. Additionally, premenopausal women appear to have a superior response to typical antipsychotics compared to men and postmenopausal women. These gender differences are thought to arise from the interplay between hormonal and psychosocial factors. It has been hypothesized that estrogen, with…