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Introduction
Epidemiology of Schizophrenia
Approximately 1% of Americans develop schizophrenia, which translates into more than 2 million people. More than 80% of schizophrenic patients have parents who do not have the disorder. It affects men and women equally and occurs at similar rates in all ethnic groups worldwide. Onset in women is later than in men. This may explain why women with schizophrenia tend to have a better prognosis than men relating to social functioning, since it is well known that the higher the level of social skills of the patient at onset of symptoms, the better the long-term outcome. Women also tend to have less severe cases of schizophrenia and have fewer hospitalizations. Psychotic symptoms tend to be the same for both genders.
