Younger Age at Onset of Schizophrenia in Females: A NIMHANS Record-Based Study

Case records of patients (n = 505) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (ICD-10, F-20) were reviewed. The age at onset (AAO) was obtained from the recorded age and duration of illness. The mean AAO was not different between the sexes. However, significantly higher proportion of females than males had AAO 20 years or younger. Survival analysis of the data of all patients with AAO 30 years or younger also confirmed significant sex differences; females were represented more in the younger age. The results are in contrast with those from Western studies demonstrating younger AAO in males. The results also confirm younger AAO in females observed in an earlier record-based study from this centre.