title: Are there any gender differences in the QEEG power spectrum in patients with schizophrenia?
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the gender differences in patients with schizophrenia in age of onset, other demographic and clinical characteristics and their relationship with QEEG power spectrum measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with schizophrenia were enrolled in the study, 17 female and 13 male, mean age 34 years. Comprehensive assessment of the symptoms of schizophrenia was performed using PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale), BPRS (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) and CGI (Clinical Global Impression) scale. The age of onset of schizophrenia and the duration of psychosis was assessed using the medical history and parts of the IRAOS (Interview for Retrospective Assessment of Onset of Schizophrenia).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female patients had more severe psychopathology with statistically significant differences in PANSS and BPRS scores (larger total scores) and on the positive subscale of PANSS. QEEG power spectrum showed statistical significant difference only for the beta band in female patients. Women were less employed and had longer duration of illness and previous treatment. There were no differences in the mean age of onset of the disease (26 years in male and 25 years in female patients) and in the familiar occurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fast basic activity in beta bands was associated with female patients with schizophrenia who presented more severe psychopathology and had longer duration of the disease and previous treatment. Considering the relatively small sample the current results must be replicated with a larger group of subjects to confirm the findings.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Psychiatry, Skopje, R.Macedonia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manusheva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Novotni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pejoska-Gerazova
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zafirova-Ivanovska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011599:Psychopathology; D018843:Republic of North Macedonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012923:Social Class