Sex differences in schizophrenia: A review

During the past decade schizophrenia research has emphasized the importance of sex differences. Most studies have found that lifetime risk of schizoph renia has been equally common in both sexes. Men develop schizophrenia 3-4 years earlier than women, regardless of culture, but late-onset schizophren ia has been found to be commoner in women. Women more often have a favorabl e course of schizophrenia than men: they experience fewer and shorter hospi talizations, survive longer in the community, and also have better social f unctioning. Men more often have chronic and more severe forms of schizophre nia, they have negative symptoms more often, and their doses of neuroleptic medication are higher. Men with schizophrenia tend to have more central ne rvous system abnormalities than women. In the future it is important to stu dy factors that have been observed in sex differences, heredity, and brain physiology as they relate to schizophrenia. Sex differences as they relate to treatment programs are important both from a scientific perspective and from a practical point of view.