Present an overview of sex differences found in the literature with regard to the prevalence, onset, and course of schizophrenia. What factors have been implicated in these dimensions?

What will be an ideal response?

There are significant differences between the sexes with regard to the age of onset for schizophrenia, as well as its course and prognosis. Women tend to develop it later than men, and because of this, tend to have a milder form of the illness with fewer hospitalizations and better social functioning. When the disorder develops later, there is greater opportunity to achieve adolescent and young adult developmental milestones and develop better social functioning. The sex difference with regard to age of onset may be due to hormonal and/or sociocultural factors. For example, the female hormone estrogen has a strong positive influence on brain development and is hypothesized to lessen the abnormal brain development commonly seen in schizophrenia. With respect to sociocultural factors, females are socialized from a very early age to be more socially competent than males, and they have more extensive social networks.