A glimpse of gender differences in schizophrenia

Ample evidence suggests that gender affects the incidence,susceptibility,presentation,diagnosis and severity of many psychiatric disorders.Schizophrenia is one of the most prevalent severe mental disorders,with an incidence of 0.7%–1%among the total population,which causes suffering and pecuniary losses.12 It has long been known that the age of schizophrenia onset differs in women compared with men.Some life events,such as pregnancy,fertility and menopause,are unique to women and can affect the onset and course of mental disorders.