Gender differences in schizophrenia: A multicentric study from three Latin-America countries

Area of Science:

• Clinical Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Sociology

Background:

• Schizophrenia (SZ) presents diverse clinical manifestations across demographics.
• Latin America harbors unique sociocultural factors influencing mental health outcomes.
• Understanding gender-specific differences in SZ is crucial for tailored interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate clinical variations between women and men with schizophrenia in Latin America.
• To examine the influence of ethnicity (Aymara) on these gender differences.
• To identify potential targets for improved treatment adherence in specific subgroups.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study in public mental health centers across Bolivia, Peru, and Chile.
• Inclusion of 247 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.
• Comparative analysis of clinical symptoms, social cognition, family and sentimental life scores between genders and within the Aymara subgroup.

Main Results:

• Schizophrenia women exhibited lower negative symptoms and social cognitive impairments compared to men.
• Women reported higher Sentimental Life scores but also more impaired Family Relationships.
• Aymara schizophrenia women showed significantly lower treatment adherence than Aymara men.

Conclusions:

• Schizophrenia women generally present a more favorable clinical profile, with notable exceptions in family relationships.
• Aymara schizophrenia women represent a vulnerable subgroup needing enhanced adherence strategies.
• Psychosocial interventions may need gender-specific adaptations in Latin America.