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Sex Differences in Schizophrenia Across the Reproductive Lifespan
Alexandre González-Rodríguez1, Mentxu Natividad2, Lorena Marín2
1Department of Mental Health, Mutua Terrassa University Hospital, University of Barcelona (UB), CIBERSAM, 5, Doctor Robert Street, 08221, Terrassa, Spain. alexandregonzalez@mutuaterrassa.cat.
Current Psychiatry Reports
|January 13, 2026
Summary
Sex differences in schizophrenia impact clinical outcomes, medical issues, and social needs. Recognizing these disparities is crucial for developing effective, sex-specific psychosis treatment programs.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Schizophrenia Research
- Sex Differences in Medicine
Background:
- Schizophrenia exhibits notable sex differences in epidemiological data, clinical presentation, and social requirements.
- Recent research highlights the importance of considering sex-specific factors in schizophrenia management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence on sex differences in clinical outcomes, medical comorbidities, and social risk factors in schizophrenia.
- To emphasize the need for sex-specific approaches in schizophrenia care.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent scientific literature.
- Analysis of sex-specific data concerning schizophrenia's epidemiology, clinical course, and treatment.
Main Results:
- Women with schizophrenia more frequently experience insomnia, linked to depressive symptoms and cognitive deficits.
- Men show a stronger association between negative symptoms and long-term cardiovascular risk.
- Differences in antipsychotic dosage, hospitalization rates, and adverse events exist between sexes and vary with age.
- Hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia present potential targets for sex-stratified treatment.
- Social factors like marital status, loneliness, and isolation differentially impact men and women.
Conclusions:
- Significant sex-based variations exist in the mental, physical, and social needs of individuals with schizophrenia.
- Tailoring treatment programs based on sex-specific differences is essential for improving patient outcomes in psychosis.
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