One-year stability of diagnosis in first-episode nonaffective psychosis: influence of sex.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether sex influences the frequency and direction of diagnostic change 1 year after a first episode of nonaffective psychosis.


METHODS
The subjects (n = 228) were individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychoses according to DSM-IV criteria at baseline and at 1 year.


RESULTS
When diagnostic shifts occurred, men mainly shifted toward schizophrenia (84.6%), which was associated with more severe symptoms. In contrast, 72% of women in whom a diagnostic shift occurred shifted away from a schizophrenia spectrum disorder toward mood disorder. A shift to mood disorder in women was associated with an early age of illness onset.


CONCLUSIONS
At initial presentation, nonaffective first-episode psychosis studies may underestimate the number of men and overestimate the number of women who will eventually receive a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Chaves
Ana Cristina
AC
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario.
Addington
Jean
J
Seeman
Mary
M
Addington
Donald
D
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors