BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia first appears in adolescence, in boys at an earlier age than girls. The interpretation of this key epidemiological finding crucially depends on whether similar age-related sex differences exist in the expression of associated, subclinical psychosis-like experiences. METHODS: Findings are based on a population sample of 2548 adolescents and young adults aged 17-28. Subjects were assessed with the core psychosis sections on delusions and hallucinations of the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: The risk of subclinical psychotic experiences was significantly higher for males in the younger half of the cohort (17-21 years), but similar in the older half (22-28 years). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that normal maturational changes in adolescence with differential age of onset in boys and girls cause the expression of psychosis, the extreme of which is schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND:Schizophrenia first appears in adolescence, in boys at an earlier age than girls. The interpretation of this key epidemiological finding crucially depends on whether similar age-related sex differences exist in the expression of associated, subclinical psychosis-like experiences. METHODS: Findings are based on a population sample of 2548 adolescents and young adults aged 17-28. Subjects were assessed with the core psychosis sections on delusions and hallucinations of the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: The risk of subclinical psychotic experiences was significantly higher for males in the younger half of the cohort (17-21 years), but similar in the older half (22-28 years). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that normal maturational changes in adolescence with differential age of onset in boys and girls cause the expression of psychosis, the extreme of which is schizophrenia.
Authors: Judith Rietdijk; Marjolein Fokkema; Daniel Stahl; Lucia Valmaggia; Helga K Ising; Sara Dragt; Rianne M C Klaassen; Dorien H Nieman; Rachel Loewy; Pim Cuijpers; Philippe Delespaul; Don H Linszen; Mark van der Gaag Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2013-10-15 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Judith Rietdijk; Sara Dragt; Rianne Klaassen; Helga Ising; Dorien Nieman; Lex Wunderink; Philippe Delespaul; Pim Cuijpers; Don Linszen; Mark van der Gaag Journal: Trials Date: 2010-03-22 Impact factor: 2.279