Sex differences in symptoms of psychosis in a non-selected, general population sample.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about sex differences in psychosis beyond the borders of clinical disorder.


METHODS
A general population sample of 7,076 subjects was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, in order to explore sex differences in the prevalence of any positive and negative symptoms of psychosis, and to examine to what degree any differences could be explained by differences in level of affective symptoms.


RESULTS
Male sex was associated with higher prevalence of negative symptoms (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.0, 2.5), independent of differences in affective symptoms and presence of DSM-III-R psychotic disorder. Women had higher rates of positive psychotic experiences (OR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.7, 0.9), but this difference disappeared after adjustment for depressive symptoms (adjusted OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.9, 1.5).


CONCLUSIONS
The sex differences in psychopathology that are seen in schizophrenia are expressed beyond the clinical phenotype, suggesting sex-dependent continuous and normal variation of several psychosis dimensions. The higher rates of positive psychotic experiences seen in women may be secondary to differences in the rate of affective symptoms.
Maric
Nadja
N
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, azM/Mondriaan/Riagg/RIBW/Vijverdal Academic Centre, European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616 (DRT 10), 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Krabbendam
Lydia
L
Vollebergh
Wilma
W
de Graaf
Ron
R
van Os
Jim
J
D000328:Adult; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires