TY - JOUR
T1 - Where have all the women gone?. Participant gender in epidemiological and non-epidemiological research of schizophrenia
AU - Longenecker, Julia
AU - Genderson, Jamie
AU - Dickinson, Dwight
AU - Malley, James
AU - Elvevåg, Brita
AU - Weinberger, Daniel R.
AU - Gold, James
PY - 2010/6
Y1 - 2010/6
N2 - Though archival literature states that schizophrenia occurs equally in males and in females, recent epidemiological studies report higher incidence of schizophrenia in men than in women. Moreover, there is longstanding evidence that women may be under-represented in non-epidemiological research literature. Our first goal was to quantify gender ratios in non-epidemiological research published in 2006. Secondly, we sought to investigate which factors contribute to high numbers of men in research studies. Our final goal was to compare gender ratios in non-epidemiological schizophrenia research to reported incidence rates. In a recent meta-analysis of incidence, there were 1.4 males for each female with schizophrenia. In non-epidemiological studies of the schizophrenia patients, there was an average of 1.94 men for every woman. Although the degree to which men outnumbered women varied according to study type and region of study, research studies included more men than women across all investigated variables. Either the incidence rates are higher for men than has previously been reported or women are less visible in research settings than in the greater community. Importantly, the discrepancy between gender ratios in epidemiological and non-epidemiological research is consistent. However, specific, identifiable factors are present when male participants are greatest, suggesting that many research environments yield a higher number of men. Thus much of our understanding of the illness and its treatment is based on research conducted disproportionately with men.
AB - Though archival literature states that schizophrenia occurs equally in males and in females, recent epidemiological studies report higher incidence of schizophrenia in men than in women. Moreover, there is longstanding evidence that women may be under-represented in non-epidemiological research literature. Our first goal was to quantify gender ratios in non-epidemiological research published in 2006. Secondly, we sought to investigate which factors contribute to high numbers of men in research studies. Our final goal was to compare gender ratios in non-epidemiological schizophrenia research to reported incidence rates. In a recent meta-analysis of incidence, there were 1.4 males for each female with schizophrenia. In non-epidemiological studies of the schizophrenia patients, there was an average of 1.94 men for every woman. Although the degree to which men outnumbered women varied according to study type and region of study, research studies included more men than women across all investigated variables. Either the incidence rates are higher for men than has previously been reported or women are less visible in research settings than in the greater community. Importantly, the discrepancy between gender ratios in epidemiological and non-epidemiological research is consistent. However, specific, identifiable factors are present when male participants are greatest, suggesting that many research environments yield a higher number of men. Thus much of our understanding of the illness and its treatment is based on research conducted disproportionately with men.
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Gender
KW - Schizophrenia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77952673386&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1016/j.schres.2010.03.023
DO - 10.1016/j.schres.2010.03.023
M3 - Article
C2 - 20399612
AN - SCOPUS:77952673386
VL - 119
SP - 240
EP - 245
JO - Schizophrenia Research
JF - Schizophrenia Research
SN - 0920-9964
IS - 1-3
ER -