Gender Differences in Attentional Impairment in Early Onset Schizophrenia:A Neuro-Developmental Perspective

Gender specific vulnerability of the brain to neuro-developmental disruption leading to schizophrenia has been evidenced. Gender differences have been noted in two neuro-developmentally underpinned variables- Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) and attentional impairments in schizophrenia. We aimed to compare attention and MPAs in male and female patients with schizophrenia; to find predictors to discriminate the group based on gender; and to assess the influence of MPAs on the association between attentional impairments and gender in schizophrenia. Thirty patients with early onset schizophrenia (in remission) were recruited. While attention was assessed using the Digit span, the Digitvigilance and the Trail Making Tests, MPAs were comprehensively assessed using the 55 item Extended Waldrop Scale. Study variables were analyzed using parametric measures. Male schizophrenia patients were found to have significantly higher MPAs in skull/scalp, which discriminated the gender based classified groups. There was no significant correlation between gender and attentional measures, even with controlling for MPAs. This study supports the finding that total and specific cranio-facial MPA scores and, impaired attention are indeed illness markers in schizophrenia patients. We conclude that although present in higher numbers in male schizophrenia patients, neuro-developmental anomalies do not intercede the relationship between gender and attentional impairment.