Gender, age at onset, and duration of being ill as predictors for the long-term course and outcome of schizophrenia: an international multicenter study

Abstract

Background. The aim of the current study was to explore the effect of gender, age at onset, and duration on the long-term course of schizophrenia. Methods. Twenty-nine centers from 25 countries representing all continents participated in the study that included 2358 patients aged 37.21 ± 11.87 years with a DSM-IV or DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia; the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale as well as relevant clinicodemographic data were gathered. Analysis of variance and analysis of covariance were used, and the methodology corrected for the presence of potentially confounding effects. Results. There was a 3-year later age at onset for females (P < .001) and lower rates of negative symptoms..