Gender Differences in Schizophrenia *

Abstract

Men with schizophrenia have an earlier age of onset, a somewhat inferior response to treatment and a generally poorer prognosis than women. These findings can perhaps be explained by the existence of two distinct forms of the illness, one with early onset, primarily affecting men, and one with later onset, primarily affecting women. There is not much evidence for this first view. Alternatively, non-specific cumulative stress factors may impinge selectively on the male, reaching the threshold of demonstrable illness at an earlier age. A third possibility is the existence of specific biological protective factors in the female, such as relatively bilateral representation of left hemisphere functions or relative dopaminergic inhibition by estrogens.