Sex differences in schizophrenia-spectrum diagnoses. Results from a 30-year health records registry.

Maria Ferraro, Paola Dazzan

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Abstract

Purpose
This study investigated sociodemographic and clinical differences between the sexes in individuals affected by schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD) who accessed outpatient mental health services.

Methods
Within a retrospective cohort of 45,361 outpatients receiving care in Ferrara (Italy) from 1991 to 2021, those with a SSD diagnosis were compared between the sexes for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics before and after the index date (when the ICD-9: 295.*diagnosis was first recorded) to assess early trajectory, age and type of diagnosis, and severity of illness indicated by medication use, hospitalization, and duration of psychiatric care. Predictors of discharge were also investigated.

Results
Among 2,439 patients, 1,191 were women (48.8%). Compared to men, women were significantly older at first visit (43.7 vs 36.8 years) and at index date (47.8 vs 40.6) with peak frequency at age 48 (vs 30). The most frequent last diagnosis recorded before the index date was delusional disorder (27.7%) or personality disorder (24.3%) in men, depression (24%) and delusional disorder (30.1%) in women. After the index date, long-acting-antipsychotics and clozapine were more frequently prescribed to men (46.5% vs 36.3%; 13.2% vs 9.4%, p
Original languageEnglish
JournalArchives of Women's Mental Health
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 10 Sept 2023

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