Duration of Pretreatment Phases in Schizophrenia: Women and Men

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relative duration of the prepsychotic prodrome and the period of untreated psychosis in women and men with schizophrenia. Method From a larger study population, we selected 27 women and 34 men treated at 1 facility. To determine the time of first behavioural change and the time of first psychotic symptoms, we administered the Interview for the Retrospective Assessment of the Onset of Schizophrenia (IRAOS). Subjects' mothers were interviewed using the same instrument. Time of first treatment was determined by hospital record. Results The first sign of behavioural disturbance occurred at approximately the same age in women and men. The prepsychotic prodrome was almost twice as long for women as for men. The duration of untreated psychosis did not differ between the 2 sexes. Substance abuse did not influence the observed difference between men and women in the duration of the prepsychotic phase. The interval between first behavioural sign and first treatment was, on average, 6 years for men and 9 years for women. Conclusion As-yet-unknown factors speed up the progression from nonspecific symptoms to psychosis in men or delay it in women.