Impact of Family History on Gender Differences of Clinical Features in Schizophrenics

Kim, Sung Jin; Kang, Kyung Mi

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study examined gender differences on sociodemographic factor and clinical feature among patients with schizophrenia and the impact of family history on gender differences of clinical course and clinical characteristics. METHOD: Patients who admitted to Seoul National Mental Hospital from March 1996 to September 1996 and met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia by DSM-N were studied. The number of patients was 177(92 men and 85 women), among them with family history of first degree relatives schizophrenia was 33(13 men 20 women). Sociodemographic factor, age of onset, duration of illness, number of admission, dosage of antipsychotics(chlorprormazine equivalent), past history of suicidal attempts and clinical symptoms assessed by Brief psychiatric Rating Scale(BFRS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) were compared by gender. Furthermore, gender differences of clinical features were compared by presene or absence of family history.
RESULTS
There were no gender differences in education, religions, occupational status, family history, duration of illness, number of admission, dosage of drugs, suicidal attempts and clinical subtypes, but more female schizophrenic patients were married and age of onset was significantly earlier in male patients. In clinical symptoms were compared with PANSS, negative type is significantly more in male patients but positive type is more in female, with BPRS, perceptul-thought disturbance factor and anxiety-depression factor were significantly higher in female patients. The age of onset was no significantly different in family history positive group but significantly earlier onset of male patients in negative group. Clinical symptoms with BFRS were no significant differences in family history positive group, but perceptual-thought disturbance factor and anxiety-depression factor were higher in female patients in negative group.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings coupled with reports from other investigators, support that both gender and genetic loading contribute to the heterogeneity of schizophrenia.