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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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

A. Thorup ,
N. Albert ,
M. Bertelsen ,
L. Petersen ,
P. Jeppesen ,
P. Le Quack ,
G. Krarup ,
P. Jørgensen  and
M. Nordentoft
A. Thorup*
Affiliation:
Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 23, Bispebjerg Bakke, VIA 7, DK-2400, Copenhagen, Denmark
N. Albert
Affiliation:
Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 23, Bispebjerg Bakke, VIA 7, DK-2400, Copenhagen, Denmark
M. Bertelsen
Affiliation:
Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 23, Bispebjerg Bakke, VIA 7, DK-2400, Copenhagen, Denmark
L. Petersen
Affiliation:
Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 23, Bispebjerg Bakke, VIA 7, DK-2400, Copenhagen, Denmark
P. Jeppesen
Affiliation:
Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 23, Bispebjerg Bakke, VIA 7, DK-2400, Copenhagen, Denmark
P. Le Quack
Affiliation:
Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital Risskov, Aarhus, Denmark
G. Krarup
Affiliation:
Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital Risskov, Aarhus, Denmark
P. Jørgensen
Affiliation:
Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital Risskov, Aarhus, Denmark
M. Nordentoft
Affiliation:
Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 23, Bispebjerg Bakke, VIA 7, DK-2400, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +45 26 21 08 26; fax: +45 38 64 73 55. E-mail address:Anne.Amalie.Elgaard.Thorup@regionh.dk (A. Thorup).
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Abstract

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 5 years 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 2 years of intensive early-intervention programme with standard treatment. All patients were assessed with validated instruments at inclusion, and after 2 and 5 years. 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.

Keywords

GenderSocial functioningSocial statusPsychopathologyCompliance
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 29 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 44 - 51
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS

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