Gender differences in the prediction of 5-year outcome in first episode psychosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine gender differences in prediction of long-term outcome in first episode psychosis (FEP).


METHODS
Eighty-one male and 72 female FEP patients were compared regarding the sensitivity and specificity of the Predictive Rating Scale (PRS). The contributions of pre-admission clinical and socio-demographic characteristics to a poor 5-year outcome were analysed for males and females separately. Gender differences in the relations between predictors and outcome were examined using the equality of correlation comparing correlation coefficients.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of the PRS was significantly better for males than for females. The following items: 'the highest Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) the year before first admission < or =70' and 'GAF at first admission < or =30' explained most of the variance of a poor 5-year outcome for males, whereas for females the corresponding items were 'the highest educational level is compulsory school', 'living with parents' and 'contact with friends < or =2-3 times/month'. When the PRS was adapted assigning a weight of two to the item 'the highest educational level is compulsory school' for females, the sensitivity increased.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that the predictors for poor outcome differ between male and female patients with FEP.
Mattsson
Maria
M
Department of Psychiatry, R&D Section, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. maria.mattsson@sll.se
Flyckt
Lena
L
Edman
Gunnar
G
Nyman
Håkan
H
Cullberg
Johan
J
Forsell
Yvonne
Y
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013548:Sweden
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents