A glimpse of gender differences in schizophrenia
A brief overview of gender differences in the epidemiology, disease presentation, risk factors and management of schizophrenia is provided.
Abstract
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Reuse permitted under CC BYNC. No commercial reuse. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. Ample evidence suggests that gender affects the incidence, susceptibility, presentation, diagnosis and severity of many psychiatric disorders. Schizophrenia is one of the most prevalent severe mental disorders, with an incidence of 0.7%–1% among the total population, which causes suffering and pecuniary losses. 2 It has long been known that the age of schizophrenia onset differs in women compared with men. Some life events, such as pregnancy, fertility and menopause, are unique to women and can affect the onset and course of mental disorders. However, the role of gender in this association has received little attention. The female sex and reproductive transitions impact various aspects of brain biology and pathobiology. These biologic differences can impact differential gene expression or organ development. Evaluating genderrelated differences is the first step in moving towards precision psychiatry. This article provides a brief overview of gender differences in the epidemiology, disease presentation, risk factors and management of schizophrenia.