Sex differences in olfactory function in young patients with psychotic disorders
Kimberley P Good1, Ronald A Leslie, Jeannette McGlone
1Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Canada. kimpgood@dal.ca
Schizophrenia Research
|August 21, 2007
Summary
In patients with psychotic disorders, females show superior olfactory identification compared to males. These sex differences in smell function are likely general, not specific to psychosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Sensory Science
Background:
- Established female superiority in olfactory function.
- Uncertainty regarding sex differences in olfaction among patients with psychotic disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex differences in olfactory identification in patients with psychotic disorders.
- To determine if these differences relate to psychotic disorder features or general sex disparities.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 353 young patients with recent psychotic illness and 89 healthy controls.
- Olfactory identification assessed using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT).
Main Results:
- Females outperformed males in olfactory identification.
- Patients with psychotic disorders performed worse than healthy controls.
- No significant age effects or interactions between sex and diagnosis were found.
Conclusions:
- Sex differences in olfactory identification exist in early-stage psychotic disorders.
- These differences appear to be general male-female variations, not specific to psychosis.
- Olfactory deficits are not linked to antipsychotic medication or smoking in this cohort.
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