Anjana Muralidharan1, Philip D Harvey2, Christopher R Bowie3. 1. VA Capitol Healthcare Network, Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Baltimore (AM); Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore (AM). Electronic address: anjana.muralidharan2@va.gov. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami (PDH); Research Service, Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center, Miami. 3. Department of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont. (CRB); Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto (CRB).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Gender differences in neurocognition, social skills, and negative symptoms, favoring women, have been documented among young/middle-aged adults with schizophrenia. However, gender differences have rarely been examined among older adults with schizophrenia, when decreases in circulating estrogens may impact outcomes among women. METHODS: Community-dwelling adults (N = 242, ages 40-85) with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder completed assessments of negative symptoms (expressive and experiential deficits), neurocognition, and social skills. Mann-Whitney U tests examined gender differences; a regression-based bootstrapped approach to moderation examined gender by age interactions. RESULTS: Female participants had better neurocognition (U = 6,814.00, p = 0.011) and less severe experiential deficits (U = 4,130.50, p = 0.022). There was no gender difference in social skills (U = 5,920.50, p = 0.150). Older age was associated with greater expressive deficits among men but not women (b = -0.04; 95% confidence interval -0.0780, -0.0114; bootstrap p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Gender differences among adults with schizophrenia may vary depending on age; gender differences in negative symptoms may vary by symptom subgroup. Published by Elsevier Inc.
OBJECTIVE: Gender differences in neurocognition, social skills, and negative symptoms, favoring women, have been documented among young/middle-aged adults with schizophrenia. However, gender differences have rarely been examined among older adults with schizophrenia, when decreases in circulating estrogens may impact outcomes among women. METHODS: Community-dwelling adults (N = 242, ages 40-85) with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder completed assessments of negative symptoms (expressive and experiential deficits), neurocognition, and social skills. Mann-Whitney U tests examined gender differences; a regression-based bootstrapped approach to moderation examined gender by age interactions. RESULTS: Female participants had better neurocognition (U = 6,814.00, p = 0.011) and less severe experiential deficits (U = 4,130.50, p = 0.022). There was no gender difference in social skills (U = 5,920.50, p = 0.150). Older age was associated with greater expressive deficits among men but not women (b = -0.04; 95% confidence interval -0.0780, -0.0114; bootstrap p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Gender differences among adults with schizophrenia may vary depending on age; gender differences in negative symptoms may vary by symptom subgroup. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Entities:
Keywords:
Schizophrenia; age differences; gender differences; negative symptoms; older adults
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