Review of Male and Female Care Needs in Schizophrenia: A New Specialized Clinical Unit for Women

Abstract

Women with schizophrenia require health interventions that differ, in many ways, from those of men. The aim of this paper is to review male and female care needs and describe a newly established care unit for the treatment of women with schizophrenia. After reviewing the literature on the differentiated needs of men and women with schizophrenia, we describe the new unit’s assessment, intervention, and evaluation measures. The program consists of (1) individual/group patient/family therapy, (2) therapeutic drug monitoring and adherence checks, (3) perinatal mental health, (4) medical liaison, (5) suicide prevention/intervention, (6) social services with special focus on parenting, domestic abuse, and sexual exploitation, (7) home-based services, (8) peer support, (9) occupational therapies (physical activity and leisure programs), and (10) psychoeducation for both patients and families. Still in the planning stage are quality evaluation of diagnostic assessment, personalized care, drug optimization, health screening (reproductive health, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular health, cancer, menopausal status), and patient and family satisfaction with services provided. Woman-specific care represents an important resource that promises to deliver state-of-the-art treatment to women and, ideally, prevent mental illness in their offspring.

Shortcomings of services for persons with severe and persistent mental health challenges: a qualitative study of service users and family carers

“…Since the health system depends on people actively seeking help from services, this did not help those for whom, their mental illness itself prevented them from reaching out for help. Reports of home-based services have been described for older people ( 33 ) and women with schizophrenia ( 34 ). However, the challenges of initial engagement with services for mentally ill individuals who are isolated at home requires further research.…”

Sex differences in schizophrenia-spectrum diagnoses: results from a 30-year health record registry

“…While local stakeholders identify the resources for community mental health services, possible quality improvement initiatives could be already implemented. For instance, two CMHCs in Barcelona, Spain, are promoting a collaborative multidisciplinary and multispecialty network program that will include the provision of perinatal mental health, a liaison with a medical unit, prevention of suicide risk, interventions on parenting, domestic abuse and sexual exploitation, home-based services, peer support, and occupational therapy (González-Rodríguez et al 2023 ).…”

Monitoring the Effectiveness of Treatment in Women with Schizophrenia: New Specialized Cooperative Approaches

“…Male/female differences are well known to exist in schizophrenia [ 1 ]. For instance, negative and cognitive symptoms are more frequent in men, and positive psychotic and affective symptoms more prevalent in women of reproductive age [ 2 ].…”

“…Women, as a group, show an overall superior response to antipsychotic treatment compared to men, but they develop more adverse effects [ 3 ]. Gender/sex are important variables that influence the clinical course of schizophrenia and determine total clinical health needs [ 1 ]. Physical as well as emotional/mental health needs differ in men and women with schizophrenia and these needs change, in women, pre and post menopause [ 1 ].…”

“…Gender/sex are important variables that influence the clinical course of schizophrenia and determine total clinical health needs [ 1 ]. Physical as well as emotional/mental health needs differ in men and women with schizophrenia and these needs change, in women, pre and post menopause [ 1 ]. One of the most significant sex differences is that men show psychotic symptoms earlier in life.…”