Published online Nov 9, 2018. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v8.i5.125
Peer-review started: July 18, 2018
First decision: August 2, 2018
Revised: August 24, 2018
Accepted: October 11, 2018
Article in press: October 11, 2018
Published online: November 9, 2018
Processing time: 114 Days and 20.1 Hours
Many brain diseases, including schizophrenia, affect men and women unequally - either more or less frequently, or at different times in the life cycle, or to varied degrees of severity. With updates from recent findings, this paper reviews the work of my research group over the last 40 years and underscores issues that remain critical to the optimal care of women with schizophrenia, issues that overlap with, but are not identical to, the cares and concerns of men with the same diagnosis. Clinicians need to be alert not only to the overarching needs of diagnostic groups, but also to the often unique needs of women and men.
Core tip: Schizophrenia and related disorders are expressed differently in men and women. Causative factors may differ, as can the expression, timing and severity of symptoms. Prevention, course of illness, and treatment response are all intimately linked to gender.