Women with Schizophrenia over the Life Span: Health Promotion, Treatment and Outcomes

Women with schizophrenia show sex-specific health needs that differ according to stage of life. The aim of this narrative review is to resolve important questions concerning the treatment of women with schizophrenia at different periods of their life—paying special attention to reproductive and post...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2020-08, Vol.17 (15), p.5594
Main Authors: González-Rodríguez, Alexandre, Guàrdia, Armand, Álvarez Pedrero, Aida, Betriu, Maria, Cobo, Jesús, Acebillo, Sidharta, Monreal, José Antonio, Seeman, Mary V., Palao, Diego, Labad, Javier
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Antipsychotics
Complications
Contraceptives
Fetuses
Gender differences
Health promotion
Health risks
Hormones
Life span
Menopause
Menstrual cycle
Mental disorders
Offspring
Postpartum
Pregnancy
Pregnancy complications
Psychotropic drugs
Review
Schizophrenia
Womens health
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Summary:Women with schizophrenia show sex-specific health needs that differ according to stage of life. The aim of this narrative review is to resolve important questions concerning the treatment of women with schizophrenia at different periods of their life—paying special attention to reproductive and post-reproductive stages. Review results suggest that menstrual cycle-dependent treatments may be a useful option for many women and that recommendations re contraceptive options need always to be part of care provision. The pregnancy and the postpartum periods—while constituting vulnerable time periods for the mother—require special attention to antipsychotic effects on the fetus and neonate. Menopause and aging are further vulnerable times, with extra challenges posed by associated health risks. Pregnancy complications, neurodevelopmental difficulties of offspring, cancer risk and cognitive defects are indirect results of the interplay of hormones and antipsychotic treatment of women over the course of the lifespan. The literature recommends that health promotion strategies need to be directed at lifestyle modifications, prevention of medical comorbidities and increased psychosocial support. Careful monitoring of pharmacological treatment has been shown to be critical during periods of hormonal transition. Not only does treatment of women with schizophrenia often need to be different than that of their male peers, but it also needs to vary over the course of life.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph17155594