Schizophrenia is a very different experience for everyone and it is especially different between men and women. There are many ways in which these difference can be seen. The hormones in men and women can impact the effects of schizophrenia differently for each party. There is also a gender related difference in the white matter structure of the brain for early onset schizophrenic patients. Thirdly, the response to antipsychotic drugs varies between males and females. Another way that gender differences are seen in schizophrenia is through fMRI scans of cerebral activation. Lastly, MRIs of the temporal lobe structure show that there are gender differences. These things each contribute in their own way to the gender differences within schizophrenia
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MRI scans were used by Bryant, Buchanan, Vladar, Breier, & Rothman (1999) to examine the temporal lobe structure of patients with schizophrenia. After they did the scans of the patients brains they explained that, “a system of rules based on brain atlases and published MRI studies was used to establish landmarks for delineating the boundaries of the regions of interest. These landmarks served as general guidelines to supplement the information derived from visual inspection of the MRI images” (Bryant, Buchanan, Vladar, Breier, & Rothman, 1999, p.605). They looked at the superior temporal gyrus, the amygdala/hippocampus complex, and the temporal lobe excluding those places. Bryant et al. (1999) found that there was a significant overall effect of diagnosis in the superior temporal gyrus and the amygdala/hippocampal complex with smaller volumes in schizophrenic participants than the control. In male patients the temporal lobes size on the left was smaller than the male comparison group. The females in the control and the females with schizophrenia had no significant difference in the temporal lobe size. The superior temporal gyrus and the amygdala/hippocampal complex had no significant gender differences. Bryant et al. (1999) concluded that the pathophysiologic processes and gender may have a unique interaction that leads to changed temporal lobe sizes in those who have schizophrenia. Thus, gender differences can be seen using MRI scans on the temporal lobes volume for male and female patients with
MRI scans were used by Bryant, Buchanan, Vladar, Breier, & Rothman (1999) to examine the temporal lobe structure of patients with schizophrenia. After they did the scans of the patients brains they explained that, “a system of rules based on brain atlases and published MRI studies was used to establish landmarks for delineating the boundaries of the regions of interest. These landmarks served as general guidelines to supplement the information derived from visual inspection of the MRI images” (Bryant, Buchanan, Vladar, Breier, & Rothman, 1999, p.605). They looked at the superior temporal gyrus, the amygdala/hippocampus complex, and the temporal lobe excluding those places. Bryant et al. (1999) found that there was a significant overall effect of diagnosis in the superior temporal gyrus and the amygdala/hippocampal complex with smaller volumes in schizophrenic participants than the control. In male patients the temporal lobes size on the left was smaller than the male comparison group. The females in the control and the females with schizophrenia had no significant difference in the temporal lobe size. The superior temporal gyrus and the amygdala/hippocampal complex had no significant gender differences. Bryant et al. (1999) concluded that the pathophysiologic processes and gender may have a unique interaction that leads to changed temporal lobe sizes in those who have schizophrenia. Thus, gender differences can be seen using MRI scans on the temporal lobes volume for male and female patients with