Sex Differences in and Pharmacotherapy of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a common disorder with a prevalence rate of approximately 1%; its symptoms primarily of consist of positive and negative symptoms as well as cognitive decline. Moreover, sex differences are present in schizophrenia. The age of onset differs between men and women, but other sex differences occur in the symptoms, severity, number of treatments, and suicide rates. Important sex differences in the treatment of schizophrenia include the use of antipsychotic pharmacokinetics, side effects such as metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, QT prolongation, and gonadal dysfunction, and safety during pregnancy and lactation. Sex differences in antipsychotic side effects have not been fully investigated, but some have been reported to be worse in women. This article outlines sex differences in pharmacokinetics, side effects such as metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, QT prolongation, gonadal dysfunction, and pregnancy and lactation, as well as the precautions for each antipsychotic