Gender and Outcome in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Sex and gender play a role in outcome of mental illness because men and women differ genetically; the shape and function of their brains differ, and they are exposed to sometimes different stressors. Their contrasting paths in life are determined by local tradition, and their opportunities, including easy access to health care, differ in many regions around the world. Their response to treatment may also be sexually dimorphic, depending on the treatments offered. Conclusions about gender and outcome depend on which component of outcome is being studied, at what age, and where. This chapter explores these issues in the context of schizophrenia.