Disturbi dello Spettro Schizofrenico. Fattori di rischio, psicopatologia e problematiche di genere

摘要

The importance of gender differences in psychiatry is widely acknowledged, given its relevance for a better understanding of biological and psychosocial risk factors, time course, outcome and response to treatments of major mental disorders, in particular schizophrenia and psychotic spectrum disorders. Moreover, gender differences may play a crucial role in the early diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia. According to the majority of authors, males manifest the disease earlier and display more severe premorbid dysfunctions, intellectual impairment and social deficits, although data present in literature are somewhat conflicting at times. However, course and outcome of the illness, as well as the first episode of psychosis itself, is usually more severe and disabling in males.