In adulthood, both men and women are at risk of developing schizophrenia. However, for the female form of this severe mental pathology, there are specific features. There are even some symptoms that are generally not found in men with schizophrenia.
It is generally accepted that schizophrenia is a male disease. Indeed, according to statistics, men are more likely to suffer from this pathology than women. However, the percentage gap is relatively small, but the manifestations of schizophrenia depending on gender are slightly different.
Distinctive features of schizophrenia in women
The first distinguishing feature of female schizophrenia is a later onset of the disease than in men. As a rule, a similar diagnosis is made after 30 years, earlier cases are more likely an exception than a given. On the one hand, this puts women in a better position: by the age of 30, education has already been received, there is work, it becomes easier to adapt to life with the disease. On the other hand, at a later beginning there are pitfalls. So, for example, schizophrenia in a woman can be supported by additional mental disorders that occur due to age-related changes.
The second difference between schizophrenia in women lies in the fact that usually the disease proceeds for a long time in the background, is practically not expressed. Sluggish schizophrenia is a common diagnosis specifically for women. Due to this feature, difficulties arise in the treatment and correction of the condition. Because the pronounced signs of schizophrenia often show themselves even at the moment when the disease begins to progress rapidly, it becomes almost impossible to control the condition. In addition, the likelihood of self-medication in the early stages increases, since schizophrenia is mistaken for the symptoms of certain other neurological, psychiatric or somatic pathologies. Self-medication in this case, as in many others, can lead to negative results.
Because of the blurred symptoms, doctors also can not always immediately make an accurate diagnosis. This increases the risk of improper treatment. Some drugs, for example, aimed at correcting a depressive state, can only aggravate sluggish schizophrenia in women.