Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
10:32
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
Gender differences in cognitive function of patients with chronic schizophrenia
Mei Han1, Xu-Feng Huang, Da Chun Chen
1Centre for Translational Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Summary
Schizophrenia impairs cognitive functions like memory and language in both men and women. Male patients with schizophrenia exhibit more severe memory deficits than female patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive impairments are a core feature of schizophrenia.
- Limited research exists on gender-specific cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender differences in cognitive functioning among patients with schizophrenia.
- To compare cognitive performance between male and female schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Assessed cognitive functioning using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS).
- Included 471 participants: 122 male and 78 female schizophrenic patients, and 141 male and 130 female healthy controls.
- Analyzed correlations with PANSS scores, illness duration, antipsychotic dose, and education.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia patients showed significantly lower scores in immediate memory, language, delayed memory, and total RBANS compared to healthy controls, irrespective of gender.
- Male schizophrenic patients had significantly lower immediate memory, delayed memory, and total RBANS scores than female patients.
- Healthy males also exhibited lower immediate and delayed memory scores than healthy females, suggesting a similar gender pattern.
Conclusions:
- Both male and female schizophrenia patients experience cognitive deficits in memory and language compared to healthy individuals.
- Male patients with schizophrenia demonstrate more pronounced deficits in immediate and delayed memory compared to female patients.
- Cognitive performance, particularly memory, is influenced by gender in schizophrenia, with males showing greater impairment.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
01:30Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes loosely...
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes loosely...
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...