Influence of Sex and Diagnosis on Clinical Variables and Neurocognitive Performance in Severe Mental Illness. Results From the PsyCourse Study

Introduction Bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ) are serious mental illnesses (SMI) with overlapping symptoms but distinct differences in onset and course. Sex differences are an area of growing interest in SMI. This study aims to examine potential interactions between sex and diagnosis acr...

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Authors: Serra Navarro, Maria, Heilbronner, Maria, Solé Cabezuelo, Brisa, Borràs, Roger, Martínez-Arán, Anabel, 1971-, Adorjan, Kristina, Navarro Flores, Alba, Kohshour, Mojtaba Oraki, Reich-Erkelenz, Daniela, Schulte, Eva C., Senner, Fanny, Anghelescu, Ion-George, Arolt, Volker, Baune, Bernhard T., Dannlowski, Udo, Fallgatter, Andreas J., Figge, Christian, Jäger, Markus, Juckel, Georg, Konrad, Carsten, Dietrich, Detlef E., Reimer, Jens, Reininghaus, Eva Z., Schmauß, Max, Schmitt, Andrea, Spitzer, Carsten, Wiltfang, Jens, Zimmermann, Jorg, Papiol, Sergi, Heilbronner, Urs, Falkai, Peter, Schulze, Thomas G., Vieta i Pascual, Eduard, 1963-, Torrent Font, Carla, Budde, Monika, Amoretti Guadall, Silvia
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/225442
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/225442
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Diferències entre sexes
Malalties mentals
Neurociència cognitiva
Sex differences
Mental illness
Cognitive neuroscience
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spelling Influence of Sex and Diagnosis on Clinical Variables and Neurocognitive Performance in Severe Mental Illness. Results From the PsyCourse StudySerra Navarro, MariaHeilbronner, MariaSolé Cabezuelo, BrisaBorràs, RogerMartínez-Arán, Anabel, 1971-Adorjan, KristinaNavarro Flores, AlbaKohshour, Mojtaba OrakiReich-Erkelenz, DanielaSchulte, Eva C.Senner, FannyAnghelescu, Ion-GeorgeArolt, VolkerBaune, Bernhard T.Dannlowski, UdoFallgatter, Andreas J.Figge, ChristianJäger, MarkusJuckel, GeorgKonrad, CarstenDietrich, Detlef E.Reimer, JensReininghaus, Eva Z.Schmauß, MaxSchmitt, AndreaSpitzer, CarstenWiltfang, JensZimmermann, JorgPapiol, SergiHeilbronner, UrsFalkai, PeterSchulze, Thomas G.Vieta i Pascual, Eduard, 1963-Torrent Font, CarlaBudde, MonikaAmoretti Guadall, SilviaDiferències entre sexesMalalties mentalsNeurociència cognitivaSex differencesMental illnessCognitive neuroscienceIntroduction Bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ) are serious mental illnesses (SMI) with overlapping symptoms but distinct differences in onset and course. Sex differences are an area of growing interest in SMI. This study aims to examine potential interactions between sex and diagnosis across a broad range of variables, to compare males and females within SZ and BD, and to investigate sex-specific group differences. Methods A total of 1516 individuals were included in a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the multicenter PsyCourse Study, including BD (n = 543), SZ (n = 517), and healthy controls (HC) (n = 456). Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, psychosocial functioning, quality of life, neurocognitive performance, and somatic comorbidities were assessed. Generalized linear models were used to analyze differences between groups and sexes. False Discovery Rate (FDR) and Bonferroni post hoc comparisons were performed. Results Significant interactions were identified in age (p = 0.001), age at treatment (p = 0.05), illness duration (p = 0.03), illicit drug use (p = 0.01), and smoking (p = 0.05). Differences in substance use were observed across groups and sexes, with the highest rates found in males with SZ. The BD group showed better functioning and neurocognitive performance compared with the SZ group. Within the BD group, females reported better performance in verbal memory (p = 0.003) and psychomotor speed (p < 0.001) than males. Moreover, both females and males with SMI showed higher rates of thyroid alterations compared with HC (p = 0.01 for females and p = 0.002 for males). Conclusions Significant sex differences were observed in substance use and somatic comorbidities. Interactions between diagnosis and sex underscore the importance of considering both factors in clinical assessments. These findings highlight the need to tailor sex-specific treatment for each patient. Further research is needed to explore the role of sex hormones and other biological and societal factors in the presentation and course of these disorders.John Wiley & Sons2025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/2445/225442Articles publicats en revistes (Psicologia Clínica i Psicobiologia)reponame:Dipòsit Digital de la UBinstname:Universidad de BarcelonaInglésReproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.70026Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2025https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.70026cc-by-nc-nd (c) Serra Navarro, Maria et al., 2025http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/2254422026-05-27T06:46:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Influence of Sex and Diagnosis on Clinical Variables and Neurocognitive Performance in Severe Mental Illness. Results From the PsyCourse Study
title Influence of Sex and Diagnosis on Clinical Variables and Neurocognitive Performance in Severe Mental Illness. Results From the PsyCourse Study
spellingShingle Influence of Sex and Diagnosis on Clinical Variables and Neurocognitive Performance in Severe Mental Illness. Results From the PsyCourse Study
Serra Navarro, Maria
Diferències entre sexes
Malalties mentals
Neurociència cognitiva
Sex differences
Mental illness
Cognitive neuroscience
title_short Influence of Sex and Diagnosis on Clinical Variables and Neurocognitive Performance in Severe Mental Illness. Results From the PsyCourse Study
title_full Influence of Sex and Diagnosis on Clinical Variables and Neurocognitive Performance in Severe Mental Illness. Results From the PsyCourse Study
title_fullStr Influence of Sex and Diagnosis on Clinical Variables and Neurocognitive Performance in Severe Mental Illness. Results From the PsyCourse Study
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Sex and Diagnosis on Clinical Variables and Neurocognitive Performance in Severe Mental Illness. Results From the PsyCourse Study
title_sort Influence of Sex and Diagnosis on Clinical Variables and Neurocognitive Performance in Severe Mental Illness. Results From the PsyCourse Study
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Serra Navarro, Maria
Heilbronner, Maria
Solé Cabezuelo, Brisa
Borràs, Roger
Martínez-Arán, Anabel, 1971-
Adorjan, Kristina
Navarro Flores, Alba
Kohshour, Mojtaba Oraki
Reich-Erkelenz, Daniela
Schulte, Eva C.
Senner, Fanny
Anghelescu, Ion-George
Arolt, Volker
Baune, Bernhard T.
Dannlowski, Udo
Fallgatter, Andreas J.
Figge, Christian
Jäger, Markus
Juckel, Georg
Konrad, Carsten
Dietrich, Detlef E.
Reimer, Jens
Reininghaus, Eva Z.
Schmauß, Max
Schmitt, Andrea
Spitzer, Carsten
Wiltfang, Jens
Zimmermann, Jorg
Papiol, Sergi
Heilbronner, Urs
Falkai, Peter
Schulze, Thomas G.
Vieta i Pascual, Eduard, 1963-
Torrent Font, Carla
Budde, Monika
Amoretti Guadall, Silvia
author Serra Navarro, Maria
author_facet Serra Navarro, Maria
Heilbronner, Maria
Solé Cabezuelo, Brisa
Borràs, Roger
Martínez-Arán, Anabel, 1971-
Adorjan, Kristina
Navarro Flores, Alba
Kohshour, Mojtaba Oraki
Reich-Erkelenz, Daniela
Schulte, Eva C.
Senner, Fanny
Anghelescu, Ion-George
Arolt, Volker
Baune, Bernhard T.
Dannlowski, Udo
Fallgatter, Andreas J.
Figge, Christian
Jäger, Markus
Juckel, Georg
Konrad, Carsten
Dietrich, Detlef E.
Reimer, Jens
Reininghaus, Eva Z.
Schmauß, Max
Schmitt, Andrea
Spitzer, Carsten
Wiltfang, Jens
Zimmermann, Jorg
Papiol, Sergi
Heilbronner, Urs
Falkai, Peter
Schulze, Thomas G.
Vieta i Pascual, Eduard, 1963-
Torrent Font, Carla
Budde, Monika
Amoretti Guadall, Silvia
author_role author
author2 Heilbronner, Maria
Solé Cabezuelo, Brisa
Borràs, Roger
Martínez-Arán, Anabel, 1971-
Adorjan, Kristina
Navarro Flores, Alba
Kohshour, Mojtaba Oraki
Reich-Erkelenz, Daniela
Schulte, Eva C.
Senner, Fanny
Anghelescu, Ion-George
Arolt, Volker
Baune, Bernhard T.
Dannlowski, Udo
Fallgatter, Andreas J.
Figge, Christian
Jäger, Markus
Juckel, Georg
Konrad, Carsten
Dietrich, Detlef E.
Reimer, Jens
Reininghaus, Eva Z.
Schmauß, Max
Schmitt, Andrea
Spitzer, Carsten
Wiltfang, Jens
Zimmermann, Jorg
Papiol, Sergi
Heilbronner, Urs
Falkai, Peter
Schulze, Thomas G.
Vieta i Pascual, Eduard, 1963-
Torrent Font, Carla
Budde, Monika
Amoretti Guadall, Silvia
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Diferències entre sexes
Malalties mentals
Neurociència cognitiva
Sex differences
Mental illness
Cognitive neuroscience
topic Diferències entre sexes
Malalties mentals
Neurociència cognitiva
Sex differences
Mental illness
Cognitive neuroscience
description Introduction Bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ) are serious mental illnesses (SMI) with overlapping symptoms but distinct differences in onset and course. Sex differences are an area of growing interest in SMI. This study aims to examine potential interactions between sex and diagnosis across a broad range of variables, to compare males and females within SZ and BD, and to investigate sex-specific group differences. Methods A total of 1516 individuals were included in a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the multicenter PsyCourse Study, including BD (n = 543), SZ (n = 517), and healthy controls (HC) (n = 456). Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, psychosocial functioning, quality of life, neurocognitive performance, and somatic comorbidities were assessed. Generalized linear models were used to analyze differences between groups and sexes. False Discovery Rate (FDR) and Bonferroni post hoc comparisons were performed. Results Significant interactions were identified in age (p = 0.001), age at treatment (p = 0.05), illness duration (p = 0.03), illicit drug use (p = 0.01), and smoking (p = 0.05). Differences in substance use were observed across groups and sexes, with the highest rates found in males with SZ. The BD group showed better functioning and neurocognitive performance compared with the SZ group. Within the BD group, females reported better performance in verbal memory (p = 0.003) and psychomotor speed (p < 0.001) than males. Moreover, both females and males with SMI showed higher rates of thyroid alterations compared with HC (p = 0.01 for females and p = 0.002 for males). Conclusions Significant sex differences were observed in substance use and somatic comorbidities. Interactions between diagnosis and sex underscore the importance of considering both factors in clinical assessments. These findings highlight the need to tailor sex-specific treatment for each patient. Further research is needed to explore the role of sex hormones and other biological and societal factors in the presentation and course of these disorders.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/2445/225442
url https://hdl.handle.net/2445/225442
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Reproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.70026
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2025
https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.70026
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv cc-by-nc-nd (c) Serra Navarro, Maria et al., 2025
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv cc-by-nc-nd (c) Serra Navarro, Maria et al., 2025
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv John Wiley & Sons
publisher.none.fl_str_mv John Wiley & Sons
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Articles publicats en revistes (Psicologia Clínica i Psicobiologia)
reponame:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
instname:Universidad de Barcelona
instname_str Universidad de Barcelona
reponame_str Dipòsit Digital de la UB
collection Dipòsit Digital de la UB
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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