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Gender, age at onset, and duration of being ill as predictors for the long-term course and outcome of schizophrenia: an international multicenter study

CNS spectrums. 2022 Dec ; 27 (6) : 716-723. [epub] 20210809

CNS Spectr
ISSN 1092-8529
Source

Language English Country United States Media print-electronic

Document type Multicenter Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Persistent link https://www.medvik.cz/link/pmid34369340

PubMed 34369340
DOI 10.1017/s1092852921000742
PII: S1092852921000742
Knihovny.cz E-resources

Keywords
Gender, age at onset, duration, long-term course, outcome, schizophrenia,
MeSH
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders MeSH
Humans MeSH
Schizophrenia * diagnosis epidemiology MeSH
Age of Onset MeSH
Check Tag
Humans MeSH
Male MeSH
Female MeSH
Publication type
Journal Article MeSH
Multicenter Study MeSH
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to explore the effect of gender, age at onset, and duration on the long-term course of schizophrenia. METHODS: Twenty-nine centers from 25 countries representing all continents participated in the study that included 2358 patients aged 37.21 ± 11.87 years with a DSM-IV or DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia; the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale as well as relevant clinicodemographic data were gathered. Analysis of variance and analysis of covariance were used, and the methodology corrected for the presence of potentially confounding effects. RESULTS: There was a 3-year later age at onset for females (P < .001) and lower rates of negative symptoms (P < .01) and higher depression/anxiety measures (P < .05) at some stages. The age at onset manifested a distribution with a single peak for both genders with a tendency of patients with younger onset having slower advancement through illness stages (P = .001). No significant effects were found concerning duration of illness. DISCUSSION: Our results confirmed a later onset and a possibly more benign course and outcome in females. Age at onset manifested a single peak in both genders, and surprisingly, earlier onset was related to a slower progression of the illness. No effect of duration has been detected. These results are partially in accord with the literature, but they also differ as a consequence of the different starting point of our methodology (a novel staging model), which in our opinion precluded the impact of confounding effects. Future research should focus on the therapeutic policy and implications of these results in more representative samples.

1st Department of Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine School of Health Sciences Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Greece

2nd Department of Psychiatry National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece

3rd Department of Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine School of Health Sciences Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Greece

Antwerp Health Law and Ethics Chair AHLEC University Antwerpen Belgium

Centre for Youth Mental Health The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health Parkville Victoria Australia

Clinical Department of Neurology Clinical Centre of Montenegro Podgorica Montenegro

Clinical Department of Psychiatry Clinical Centre of Montenegro Podgorica Montenegro

Department for Psychosis Treatment Vilnius Mental Health Center Vilnius Lithuania

Department of Adult Psychiatry Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan Poland

Department of Clinic of Psychiatric Faculty of Medicine Vilnius University Vilnius Lithuania

Department of Medical and Health Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences Linköping University Linköping Sweden

Department of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Dublin Ireland