Explaining sex differences in course and outcome in the functional psychoses

doi:10.1016/0920-9964(96)00032-1

Schizophrenia Research

Volume 21, Issue 3, 18 September 1996, Pages 161-170

https://doi.org/10.1016/0920-9964(96)00032-1 Get rights and content

Abstract

We addressed the following three questions: (i) are there sex differences in outcome in the functional psychoses?, (ii) what is their effect size, and which variables mediate the effect of sex on outcome?, (iii) is the effect of sex diagnosis-specific? In a prospective study of 166 patients with recent onset psychosis, we established that 4-year outcome was more favourable for women. Female patients more often had a remitting illness course (OR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.5–5.9), were living independently 14% (4–24%) more of the time, had less evidence of negative symptoms over the follow-up period (OR = 0.3; 0.2–0.7) and were more likely to be employed at follow-up (3.6; 1.8–7.6). The findings did not appear diagnosis-specific, although the sample size was small to test for interaction with diagnostic category. Baseline occupational and social adjustment, clinical expression of illness and age and type of onset explained up to 60% of the sex effect. The processes underlying these factors mediate the effect of sex on outcome.

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Explaining sex differences in course and outcome in the functional psychoses

Abstract

Schiz. Res.

Psychiatry Res.

The family history approach to diagnosis. How useful is it?

Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

Sex and the course of schizophrenia: differences in treated outcomes

Schiz. Bull.

Prediction of outcome and utilization of medical services in a prospective study of first-onset schizophrenics — a prospective 5-year follow-up study

Eur. Arch. Psychiatry Neurol. Sci.

Measurement of premorbid adjustment in chronic schizophrenia

Schiz. Bull.

The neurodevelopmental basis of sex differences in schizophrenia

Psychol. Med.

Sex and schizophrenia: effects of diagnostic stringency, and associations with premorbid variables

Br. J. Psychiatry

Sex, premorbid functioning, and long-term outcome in DSM-III schizophrenia

Schiz. Bull.

Confounding and standardization

Long-term course of hospitalization for schizophrenia: Part I. Risk for rehospitalization

Premorbid personality in psychosis:effects of sex and diagnosis

Br. J. Psychiatry

Sex differences in the course of schizophrenia

Am. J. Psychiatry

The functional psychoses in Afro-Caribbeans

Br. J. Psychiatry

Schizophrenia: manifestations, incidence and course in different culture. A world health organization ten-country study

Psychol. Med. Suppl.

WHO collaborative study of impairments and disabilities associated with schizophrenic disorders. A preliminary communication. Objective and methods

Acta Psychiatr. Scand. Suppl.

Premorbid social underachievement in schizophrenia. Results from the Camberwell Collaborative Psychosis Study

Br. J. Psychiatry