Sociodemographic and clinical variables as predictors of the diagnostic characteristics of first episodes of schizophrenia.
This paper examines the association of clinical and sociodemographic factors, including age and sex, with the diagnostic characteristics of first episodes of schizophrenia. The study included all patients with a first episode of schizophrenia who made contact with any of the public mental health services of the Autonomous Region of Cantabria in Northern Spain over a period of 2 years. Diagnostic characteristics were determined using the Spanish version of the Present State Examination (PSE-9), and the Scales for the Assessment of Positive and Negative Symptoms (SAPS and SANS, respectively). The study confirms that the onset of schizophrenia tends to occur earlier in men than in women. However, neither sex nor age of onset were found to be associated with the clinical and psychopathological characteristics of the patients as established by the PSE-CATEGO-ID system. Furthermore, no other factors were found to be associated with these diagnostic characteristics. Being female, having a family history of mental illness, and a poor premorbid adjustment were found to predict negative symptoms as defined by SANS/SAPS scales.
Clinical and Social Psychiatry Research Unit, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Cantabria University, Santander, Spain.
J L
JL
Vázquez-Barquero
M J
MJ
Cuesta Nuñez
S
S
Herrera Castanedo
J F
JF
Diez Manrique
G
G
Pardo
G
G
Dunn
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology