Gender differences in first onset Schizophrenia spectrum psychoses.

AbstractBackground: Mental health profiles differ between boys and girls from puberty onwards. It is not known whether differences also extend to symptom presentation in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. It may be that girls and boys are not treated entirely equally by the professionals.Aims: To study gender differences in symptom profiles, family adversities, pathway to care, and characteristics of inpatient treatment at the first episode of diagnosed schizophrenia spectrum disorder (F20–29) among adolescents aged 13–17.Methods: A retrospective chart review of all (n = 106) consecutive adolescents diagnosed for the first time with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (F20–29) in a specified catchment area. Girls and boys were compared with regard to sociodemographics, pathways to care, living arrangements, symptom profiles, and treatment received.Results: During the study period more adolescent girls (n = 70, 66%) than boys (n = 36, 34%) were diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum (F20–29) psychoses, most comm...