Sex Differences Seen in Characteristics, Course of Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder
FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2025 -- Significant sex differences are seen in the characteristics and course of schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD), according to a study published online Sept. 3 in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
Maria Serra-Navarro, M.D., from the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Spain, and colleagues examined potential interactions between sex and diagnosis across a range of variables to compare men and women with SZ and BD. The cross-sectional study included 1,516 individuals: 543 with BD, 517 with SZ, and 456 healthy controls (HCs).
The researchers identified significant interactions in age, age at treatment illness duration, illicit drug use, and smoking. Across groups and sexes, there were differences in substance use, with the highest rates in men with SZ. Compared with the SZ group, the BD group showed better functioning and neurocognitive performance. Better performance was seen in verbal memory and psychomotor speed for women compared with men within the BD group. Compared with HCs, both women and men with serious mental illness showed higher rates of thyroid alterations.
"Our findings reveal a clear message: sex-sensitive treatment is essential for improving clinical outcomes, promoting healthy habits, and managing comorbidities," coauthor Anabel Martinez-Arán, Ph.D., also from the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, said in a statement.
Two authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Read this next
Lung Cancer Screening Beneficial to Age 80 for Candidates Fit for Surgery
FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2025 -- People aged 75 to 80 years at last screen who are diagnosed with screen-detected lung cancer (LC) have lower overall survival, but those undergoing...
Potentially Inappropriate Medications Linked to Frailty at Cancer Diagnosis
FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2025 -- For patients with newly diagnosed cancer, an increasing number of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), as identified by the Geriatric Oncology...
Video Head Impulse Test, Caloric Test Can Differentiate Meniere Disease, Vestibular Migraine
FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2025 -- The video head impulse test (vHIT) and caloric test can help differentiate Meniere disease (MD) from vestibular migraine (VM), according to a study...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.