Gender differences in first-episode psychosis at 5-year follow-up - two different courses of disease? Results from the OPUS study at 5-year follow-up

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gender differences in first-episode psychosis at 5-year follow-up - two different courses of disease?

T2 - Results from the OPUS study at 5-year follow-up

AU - Thorup, A

AU - Albert, Nancy

AU - Bertelsen, M

AU - Petersen, Lone Bente

AU - Jeppesen, P

AU - Le Quack, P

AU - Krarup, G

AU - Jørgensen, P

AU - Nordentoft, M

N1 - A. Thorup a, ⁎ , N. Albert a, M. Bertelsen a, L. Petersen a, P. Jeppesen a, P. Le Quack b, G. Krarup b, P. Jørgensen b, M. Nordentoft a a Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 23, Bispebjerg Bakke, VIA 7, DK-2400, Copenhagen, Denmark b Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital Risskov, Aarhus, Denmark

PY - 2014/1

Y1 - 2014/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Gender differences in psychosis have been investigated, and the results have contributed to a better understanding of the disease, but many questions are unanswered. In clinical terms, women and men with psychosis differ in terms of access to social support, tendency of substance abuse, level of functioning and symptom patterns. We aimed to investigate how gender differences at onset of psychosis develop during the first 5years of treatment. METHOD: A total of 578 patients with a first-episode psychosis in the schizophrenia spectrum were included in the Danish OPUS trial - a randomized clinical trial comparing 2years of intensive early-intervention programme with standard treatment. All patients were assessed with validated instruments at inclusion, and after 2 and 5years. Data were analysed for significant gender differences. RESULTS: Males have significantly higher levels of negative symptoms at all times, and are more likely to live alone and suffer from substance abuse. Females reach higher levels of social functioning at follow-up, and show a greater tendency to be employed or in education than males. Markedly more women than men live with children. More women than men reach a state of recovery and are more compliant with medication. CONCLUSION: There are significant gender differences at 2- and 5-year follow-up in this large cohort of first-episode psychotic patients. Males and females show different symptomatology and different levels of social functioning.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Gender differences in psychosis have been investigated, and the results have contributed to a better understanding of the disease, but many questions are unanswered. In clinical terms, women and men with psychosis differ in terms of access to social support, tendency of substance abuse, level of functioning and symptom patterns. We aimed to investigate how gender differences at onset of psychosis develop during the first 5years of treatment. METHOD: A total of 578 patients with a first-episode psychosis in the schizophrenia spectrum were included in the Danish OPUS trial - a randomized clinical trial comparing 2years of intensive early-intervention programme with standard treatment. All patients were assessed with validated instruments at inclusion, and after 2 and 5years. Data were analysed for significant gender differences. RESULTS: Males have significantly higher levels of negative symptoms at all times, and are more likely to live alone and suffer from substance abuse. Females reach higher levels of social functioning at follow-up, and show a greater tendency to be employed or in education than males. Markedly more women than men live with children. More women than men reach a state of recovery and are more compliant with medication. CONCLUSION: There are significant gender differences at 2- and 5-year follow-up in this large cohort of first-episode psychotic patients. Males and females show different symptomatology and different levels of social functioning.

U2 - 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2012.11.005

DO - 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2012.11.005

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23394824

SN - 0924-9338

SP - 44

EP - 54

JO - European Psychiatry

JF - European Psychiatry

ER -