Question

Among individuals with schizophrenia, research shows that 1) females tend to have a better long-term prognosis, and 2) onset of this disorder tends to be slightly earlier for males than it is for females.

Given the information above, discuss the mechanism/explanation for why women have better prognosis than men. You will have to use and synthesize both pieces of the information above.

Answer 1

It is said that females have better long-term prognosis of schizophrenia and their age of onset is later than men.

This mechanism can be explained by the presence of the female hormone oestrogen whose protective action protects the females from schizophrenia. The age of onset is earlier in men around 18 to 24 years, but females are not affected at this age due to the peak level presence of oestrogen at this age. However as age increases oestrogen level decreases and there is a rise in female schizophrenic patients after an age of 40.

Thus the action of hormones explains the mechanism. However this cannot be confirmed as the only explanation for this mechanism because the complete reasons are still unknown.

Brain imaging studies also reveal that brain anomalies such as enlarged ventricles(a cause of schizophrenia)are seen high in men than women. All these help to predict the course of the disorder in women than in men.

Other cultural and biological factors also contribute to the factor. Thus females have better long-term prognosis than men.