Schizophrenia In Terms Research Articles

Feasibility of six-month outpatient cognitive remediation in schizophrenia: Experience from the randomized controlled integrated social cognition and social skills therapy study

Patients with schizophrenia often have cognitive impairments that contribute to diminished psychosocial functioning. Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) has proven efficacy and is recommended by evidence-based treatment guidelines. Important moderators of efficacy include integration of CRT into a psychiatric rehabilitation concept and patient attendance at a sufficient number of therapy sessions. These conditions can probably best be met in an outpatient setting; however, outpatient treatment is prone to higher rates of treatment discontinuation and outpatient settings are not as well protected as inpatient ones and less closely supervised.The present study investigated the feasibility of outpatient CRT in schizophrenia over a six-month period. Adherence to scheduled sessions and safety parameters were assessed in 177 patients with schizophrenia randomly assigned to one of two matched CRT programs.Results showed that 58.8 % of participants completed the CRT (>80 % of scheduled sessions) and 72.9 % completed at least half the sessions. Predictor analysis revealed a high verbal intelligence quotient as favorable for good adherence, but this factor had only low general predictive power. During the six-month treatment phase, serious adverse events occurred in 15.8 % (28/177) of the patients, which is a comparable rate to that reported in the literature.Our findings support the feasibility of six-month outpatient CRT in schizophrenia in terms of adherence to scheduled sessions and safety. Trial registration numberNCT02678858, DRKS00010033.

Predicting aging trajectories of decline in brain volume, cortical thickness and fractional anisotropy in schizophrenia

Brain-age prediction is a novel approach to assessing deviated brain aging trajectories in different diseases. However, most studies have used an average brain age gap (BAG) of individuals with schizophrenia of different illness durations for comparison with healthy participants. Therefore, this study investigated whether declined brain structures as reflected by BAGs may be present in schizophrenia in terms of brain volume, cortical thickness, and fractional anisotropy across different illness durations. We used brain volume, cortical thickness, and fractional anisotropy as features to train three models from the training dataset. Three models were applied to predict brain ages in the hold-out test and schizophrenia datasets and calculate BAGs. We divided the schizophrenia dataset into multiple groups based on the illness duration using a sliding time window approach for ANCOVA analysis. The brain volume and cortical thickness models revealed that, in comparison with healthy controls, individuals with schizophrenia had larger BAGs across different illness durations, whereas the BAG in terms of fractional anisotropy did not differ from that of healthy controls after disease onset. Moreover, the BAG at the initial stage of schizophrenia was the largest in the cortical thickness model. In contrast, the BAG from approximately two decades after disease onset was the largest in the brain volume model. Our findings suggest that schizophrenia differentially affects the decline of different brain structures during the disease course. Moreover, different trends of decline in thickness and volume-based measures suggest a differential decline in dimensions of brain structure throughout the course of schizophrenia.

Gender Differences in the Psychopharmacological Treatment of Forensic In-Patients With Schizophrenia.

BackgroundIn forensic psychiatry, psychopharmacological treatment plays a crucial role for patients with schizophrenia in improving their medical as well as legal prognosis. However, an increase in the number of females entering forensic treatment has yet to yield empirical research on the outcome of psychopharmacological treatment of female patients with schizophrenia in terms of efficacy and tolerability.AimsThe aim of the present study is to elucidate pharmacological treatment strategies of women with schizophrenia in forensic psychiatry in comparison with men.MethodsThis study compares psychopharmacological treatment strategies, psychopathological features, as well as neurological and metabolic side effects of treatment between 29 female and 29 male in-patients with schizophrenia in three forensic facilities in Bavaria, Germany.ResultsResults show significant differences between genders. Poorer psychopathological and neurological features were found in the female sample, while men registered worse metabolic parameters. In terms of psychopharmacological treatment strategies, female in-patients were more often prescribed second-generation depot antipsychotics. Surprisingly, the potency of the dosages did not differ between genders. The results suggest that female forensic patients with schizophrenia have more severe and refractory diseases than their male counterparts.ConclusionRecommendations for gender-specific treatment strategies are derived.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (group) for schizophrenia.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (group) for schizophrenia.

Machine Learning Algorithm-Based Prediction Model for the Augmented Use of Clozapine with Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients with Schizophrenia.

The augmentation of clozapine with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been an optimal treatment option for patients with treatment- or clozapine-resistant schizophrenia. Using data from the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns for Antipsychotics survey, which was the largest international psychiatry research collaboration in Asia, our study aimed to develop a machine learning algorithm-based substantial prediction model for the augmented use of clozapine with ECT in patients with schizophrenia in terms of precision medicine. A random forest model and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model were used to develop a substantial prediction model for the augmented use of clozapine with ECT. Among the 3744 Asian patients with schizophrenia, those treated with a combination of clozapine and ECT were characterized by significantly greater proportions of females and inpatients, a longer duration of illness, and a greater prevalence of negative symptoms and social or occupational dysfunction than those not treated. In the random forest model, the area under the curve (AUC), which was the most preferred indicator of the prediction model, was 0.774. The overall accuracy was 0.817 (95% confidence interval, 0.793–0.839). Inpatient status was the most important variable in the substantial prediction model, followed by BMI, age, social or occupational dysfunction, persistent symptoms, illness duration > 20 years, and others. Furthermore, the AUC and overall accuracy of the LASSO model were 0.831 and 0.644 (95% CI, 0.615–0.672), respectively. Despite the subtle differences in both AUC and overall accuracy of the random forest model and LASSO model, the important variables were commonly shared by the two models. Using the machine learning algorithm, our findings allow the development of a substantial prediction model for the augmented use of clozapine with ECT in Asian patients with schizophrenia. This substantial prediction model can support further studies to develop a substantial prediction model for the augmented use of clozapine with ECT in patients with schizophrenia in a strict epidemiological context.

Comparison of Patients with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Substance Use Disorder in Terms of Family Burden

Comparison of Patients with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Substance Use Disorder in Terms of Family Burden

Family caregiving and chronic illness management in schizophrenia: positive and negative aspects of caregiving

BackgroundWe aimed to explore the long-term caregiving experiences of family caregivers of people with schizophrenia (PwS) in terms of both positive and negative aspects.MethodUtilising a purposive sampling method, we conducted in-depth interviews with 20 family caregivers of persons who had suffered from schizophrenia for more than 20 years. We empirically investigated their retrospective experiences of caregiver-patient interactions during a long period of family caregiving. We audio-recorded and transcribed the interviews into text. We thematically coded and analysed the transcribed text using a four-phase method of theme development.FindingsSchizophrenia might not only generate a caregiving burden, affect caregivers’ psychological status, and accordingly influence their coping strategies, but also have short- or long-term patient-related consequences.DiscussionFamily caregivers should develop their stress management skills to cope with relevant life changes and increase their knowledge of the potential psychological consequences for care recipients resulting from negative caregiving strategies during home-based practice. Care recipients with schizophrenia in a relatively stable status should be empowered to take care of themselves. More effective family-based interventions for psychiatric nursing or individualised training for symptom management should be tailored to serve families’ diverse needs.

Caregiver Burden in Schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Comparative Study.

ObjectiveThere is no study comparing schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in terms of caregiver burden. This study aims to compare the caregiver burden among family members of the patients with schizophrenia and ASD and investigate the predictive factors. MethodsA cross-sectional study with the family members living with and/or providing care to their patients was carried out. A sociodemographic form, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Self-Stigma Inventory for Families, and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale were utilized. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the predictive factors for higher burden. ResultsCaregiver burden in ASD was significantly higher than in schizophrenia. Regression analysis showed that the predictors of high caregiver burden were the need for self-care (OR=3.6), self-destructive behaviors (OR=3.4), self-stigma (OR=1.1), depression (OR=1.1), and level of income (OR=1.0) for all family members. When the diagnosis was removed from the equation, the factors determining the high burden did not change. ConclusionThis study suggests that characteristics of the illness are stronger predictors than family members’ characteristics in explaining high caregiver burden for both illnesses. Psychological, social, and economic supports should be provided for families to help alleviate their caregiving burden.

Possibilities and limitations of antidepressant use to correct depressive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia

The purpose of this review is to analyze approaches to the treatment of depressive and negative disorders in schizophrenia in terms of their level of efficacy and safety. Materials and Methods: A search was conducted for full-text articles published over the last 10 years in PubMed, Springer, Wiley Online Library, Taylor & Francis Online, APA PsycInfo, CORE, Science Direct, and eLIBRARY.RU databases. Several articles published previously to this period were also included into the review due to their high scientific value. Results: Our review suggests that antidepressants (ADs) are effective medications and they can be prescribed to correct depressive disorders and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia when used in combination with antipsychotics (АPs). However, when administering ADs and АPs combinations, it is important to consider the safety profile of these combinations as well as their tolerance. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia, including those induced by a number of АP, are less amenable to correction by АDs monotherapy, which requires a long period of АPs (on average - 8 weeks), which can be limited in the real life of the patient outside the hospital. Current approaches to the therapy of depressive disorders in patients suffering from schizophrenia vary from country to country. However, most of АDs used in clinical psychiatric practice are widely used in the comorbid state under consideration. Conclusion: The efficacy and safety of АDs of the different classes considered in this review depends on their mechanisms of action, duration of admission, type of АPs taken, and specific clinical situation (acute depressive disorder, major depressive episode, or chronic depressive episode). Most promising in clinical practice are serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and dual ADs. The use of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) is limited due to a higher risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The use of most selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is limited due to the risk of aggravation of hallucinations (this risk being higher for patients with visual hallucinations, and lower for those with auditory hallucinations) and\or iatrogenic psychosis. These ADRs may probably occur in patients suffering from schizophrenia due to their ideal "poor metabolizer" pharmacogenetic profile, since most of the drugs considered in this review have hepatic metabolism.

A Study of Personality Structure of Schizophrenia Patients on Rorschach Psychodiagnostic Test

Background : TheRorschach test is a most widely used psycho-diagnostic tool by researchers and clinicians in the field of mental health. It is a very useful projective test to assess the structure of personality with particular emphasis on how individuals construct their experiences and meaning assigned to their perception. Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder in which thought and perceptual disturbances are quite common. A sudden change in personality and behaviour occurs when patients with schizophrenia lose touch with reality Aim : This study was designed with the aim to asses and compare Rorschach response pattern in the cases with schizophrenia and normal controls. Method : The sample consisted of 30patients with schizophrenia and 30 normal subjects selected by using purposive sampling technique. Rorschach Inkblot Test was administered on patients and normal subjects to assess the structure of the personality. General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ) was administered as a screening tool in the group of normal control subjects. Results : Results showed that there is a significant difference between patients with schizophrenia and normal control subjects in terms of variables of Reaction Time, Location, Developmental Quality, Determinants, Contents, Form Quality, Popular Responses and Special Scores. Conclusion : In comparison to normal control subjects, patients with schizophrenia exhibited significant poor performance on Rorschach Psycho-diagnostic Test and on the basis of this poor performance, patients with the schizophrenia could be differentiated from the normal control subjects. Key Words : Rorschach profile, schizophrenia, personality

Effectiveness Study of Typical and Atypical Antipsychotics on Patients with Schizophrenia using WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0)

Background and Objectives: Schizophrenia is the commonest and one of the best known mental disorder which usually starts before 25 years of age, leading to significant disability in both behavioural and social life. Usually the person with any mental disability has to face social ignorance, this further leads to deterioration of their health and productivity. The deterioration of the health is not only due to the course of the disease but also may be due to treatment by some of the antipsychotics, which are the main drugs for the schizophrenia management. So, the present study has been designed to determine the effectiveness of typical and atypical antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia in terms of disability reduction caused by them using WHODAS 2.0. Methods: After taking ethics committee approval and informed consent from study participants this prospective, observational, questionnaire based study has been conducted in the Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacology of V. S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla, Odisha using WHODAS 2.0 in patients suffering from schizophrenia. Results: Atypical antipsychotics lead to more reduction in disability in patients with schizophrenia than typical antipsychotics both at 6 and 12 month duration. On comparing the various atypical antipsychotics used in the study, there was no significant difference among them. Conclusion: Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that atypical antipsychotics are more effective than typical antipsychotics in terms of disability reduction. The findings may help clinicians to get better insight in the management of schizophrenia.

A nationwide study of the risk of all-cause, sudden death, and cardiovascular mortality among antipsychotic-treated patients with schizophrenia in Taiwan

IntroductionStudies have reported higher risks of mortality for patients with schizophrenia, compared to the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of all-cause, sudden death, and cardiovascular mortality among patients with schizophrenia in terms of types of antipsychotics. MethodsA retrospective cohort study assessed the risk of mortality among antipsychotic-treated patients with schizophrenia. The study linked the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) claims and National Register of Death databases from 2001 to 2015. Patients were hierarchically assigned to the following index antipsychotic treatment groups: atypical long acting injection (LAI), typical LAI, atypical oral, and typical oral. ResultsA total of 68,159 antipsychotic-treated patients with schizophrenia were analyzed. Under the hierarchical grouping, the largest percentages of patients were on atypical oral antipsychotic regimens (65.51%), followed by typical oral (14.00%), typical LAI (12.84%), and atypical LAI (7.65%). Typical oral patients had the highest incidence of all-cause mortality of 27.48 per 1000 patient-years and the atypical LAI group had the lowest incidence (13.95 per 1000 patient-years). Compared to typical oral users, there were lower risks of all-cause mortality for users of atypical LAI (aHR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.47–0.81), typical LAI (aHR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.55–0.78), and atypical orals (aHR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.49–0.62). ConclusionCompared to typical oral users, we found a lower risk of all-cause mortality, sudden death, and cardiovascular mortality among schizophrenia users of LAIs and oral atypicals. Further research is warranted to characterize the risk of mortality among users of more recently available LAIs in the Asia Pacific region and elsewhere.

Displaced Metaphor as Madness? A Critical-Clinical Study of Schizophrenia in Joe Penhall's Blue/Orange

ABSTRACT No other trope captures the perceived complexity of schizophrenia and the epistemological, clinical, ethical and phenomenological aporias it poses than the phrase “the sublime object of psychiatry” (Angela Woods). “Sublimity”, however, instigates further complications and problems by mystifying the nature and experience of schizophrenia rather than contributing to the development of a clearer account of it. A conspicuous case of the critique of this treatment of schizophrenia in terms of the “sublime” can be found in Joe Penhall’s two dramatic works: Some Voices (1993) and Blue/Orange (2000). This essay will argue that Penhall's treatment of schizophrenia is distinguished by two salient features: its method (the critical-clinical) and its simultaneously symptomatic and symptomatological treatment of schizophrenia. What further distinguishes Penhall’s critical depiction of schizophrenia is his insistence that the cultural is as crucial as the clinical in the experience, representation, and perception of schizophrenia. This is attested by his acute inclusion of such crucial issues as race, class, discourse, and gender as highly determining elements in the experience, perceptions and diagnosis of schizophrenia. This essay, accordingly, will demonstrate how Blue/Orange presents a critical-clinical account of the limits of various discursively-determined treatments of schizophrenia (including both psychiatry and anti-psychiatry) thereby accentuating the necessity of developing a more holistic method in the cultural and clinical treatments of schizophrenia.

Design, development and in vivo evaluation of clozapine loaded adhesive diffusion controlled system for the treatment of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects a person's thoughts, feelings, and behavior. The treatment of schizophrenic patients is a challenging task for the caregivers and the doctors. Clozapine, the first atypical antipsychotic drug, is proved to be the most significant medication for the treatment of schizophrenia. However, the oral bioavailability of clozapine is only about 27% as it undergoes extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism. Taking this into consideration, the transdermal patch of clozapine was developed in order to bypass the biotransformation of clozapine and thereby enhance its bioavailability. The present research work was intended to develop and optimize the transdermal adhesive patch of clozapine using a 3-level 2-factor experimental design. Optimized formulation was evaluated for the physicochemical characterization, fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, permeability enhancement potential by ex vivo, skin irritation, in vivo pharmacokinetics, and stability studies. The results of the optimized formulation (F5) showed the peel strength of 428 ± 3.43 cN/cm, the flux of 106.20 ± 1.21 (μg/h/cm2), and % drug content of 99.53 ± 0.42% which was stable up to six months in accelerated condition. As per the Draize score method, the optimized transdermal patch of clozapine was found to be free from skin irritation. The pharmacokinetic result had shown the bioavailability of clozapine improved about 2.23 fold after transdermal drug delivery when compared with the oral marketed formulation. The results of the study revealed that the developed transdermal patch of clozapine can be a promising alternative that provides effective management of schizophrenia in terms of improved patient compliance.

The Imbalanced Plasticity Hypothesis of Schizophrenia-Related Psychosis: A Predictive Perspective.

A considerable number of studies have attempted to account for the psychotic aspects of schizophrenia in terms of the influential predictive coding (PC) hypothesis. We argue that the prediction-oriented perspective on schizophrenia-related psychosis may benefit from a mechanistic model that: 1) gives due weight to the extent to which alterations in short- and long-term synaptic plasticity determine the degree and the direction of the functional disruption that occurs in psychosis; and 2) addresses the distinction between the two central syndromes of psychosis in schizophrenia: disorganization and reality-distortion. To accomplish these goals, we propose the Imbalanced Plasticity Hypothesis - IPH, and demonstrate that it: 1) accounts for commonalities and differences between disorganization and reality distortion in terms of excessive (hyper) or insufficient (hypo) neuroplasticity, respectively; 2) provides distinct predictions in the cognitive and electrophysiological domains; and 3) is able to reconcile conflicting PC-oriented accounts of psychosis.

Formulation and Evaluation of Quetiapine Loaded Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Patch for Transdermal Drug Delivery

The present research work was intended to develop and characterize the transdermal adhesive patch of quetiapine using different types of acrylate, polyisobutylene and silicon adhesives. Various permeation enhancers such as 1, 8 – cineole, D-limonene, Azone, IPM and Oleic acid were also evaluated to achieve desired permeation rate and hence to attain the improved bioavailability of quetiapine as compared to oral formulation. Formulations prepared were evaluated for physicochemical characterization, permeability enhancement potential by ex vivo, and stability studies. The results of the optimized formulation showed peel strength of 423 ± 4.13 cN/cm, flux of 54.92 ± 0.79 (µg/h/cm2) and % drug content of 98.16 ± 0.43% which was stable up to six months in accelerated condition. The results of the study revealed that the developed transdermal patch of quetiapine can be a promising alternative which provides effective management of schizophrenia in terms of improved patient compliance and reduced dosage frequency.

Sex-Specific Associations of MIR137 Polymorphisms With Schizophrenia in a Han Chinese Cohort.

Objective: To investigate the effects of microRNA-137 (MIR137) polymorphisms (rs1198588 and rs2660304) on the risk of schizophrenia in a Han Chinese population.Methods: Schizophrenia was diagnosed according to the DSM-5. Clinical symptoms and cognitive functions were assessed with the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), respectively. The polymorphisms were genotyped by improved multiplex ligation detection reaction (iMLDR) technology in 1,116 patients with schizophrenia and 1,039 healthy controls.Results: Significant associations were found between schizophrenia and MIR137 in the distributions of genotypes (p = 0.037 for rs1198588; p = 0.037 for rs2660304, FDR corrected) and alleles (p = 0.043 for rs1198588; p = 0.043 for rs2660304, FDR corrected) of two SNPs. When the population was stratified by sex, we found female-specific associations between MIR137 and schizophrenia in terms of genotype and allele distributions of rs1198588 (χ2 = 4.41, p = 0.036 and χ2 = 4.86, p = 0.029, respectively, FDR corrected) and rs2660304 (χ2 = 4.74, p=0.036 and χ2 = 4.80, p = 0.029, respectively, FDR corrected). Analysis of the MIR137 haplotype rs1198588-rs2660304 showed a significant association with schizophrenia in haplotype T-T [χ2 = 4.60, p = 0.032, OR = 1.32, 95% CI (1.02–1.70)]. Then, significant female-specific associations were found with the haplotypes T-T and G-A [χ2 = 4.92, p = 0.027, OR = 1.62, 95% CI (1.05–2.50); χ2 = 4.42, p = 0.035, OR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.39–0.97), respectively]. When the TT genotype of rs1198588 was compared to the GT+GG genotype, a clinical characteristics analysis also showed a female-specific association in category instances (t = 2.76, p = 0.042, FDR corrected).Conclusion: The polymorphisms within the MIR137 gene are associated with susceptibility to schizophrenia, and a female-specific association of MIR137 with schizophrenia was reported in a Han Chinese population.

Effectiveness of a comprehensive communication skills training in clients diagnosed with schizophrenia

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of coommunication skills training (CST) on anxiety, depression, social comparison and basic conversation skills in clients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Method: 37 clients with schizophrenia followed up at Dýþkapý Training and Research Hospital Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) were included in our study. The CST consisted of 12 weekly sessions lasting 1 hour. Sociodemographic Data Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Social Comparison Scale and Communication Skills Scale were applied to participants before and after training. Results: Significant improvements were found on depression (p= 0.008), self-perception (p= 0.015), and basic communication skills total score (p= 0.001) in post-assesment; however no significant difference was found in terms of anxiety scores (p>0.05). Conclusion: Given the current study's findings, the comprehensive CST has proven to be an effective approach for people with schizophrenia in terms of improving depression symptoms, communication skills and developing positive self-scheme

Differences in Treatment of Schizoaffective Disorder and Schizophrenia in Real Clinical Practice in Slovakia

Background: Schizoaffective Disorder (SAD), similarly to schizophrenia, is a potentially chronic mental disorder that negatively affects the functioning of a patient. Various issues in everyday clinical practice often arise from its diagnostic and therapeutic uncertainty. To date, there is a lack of a well-defined therapeutic algorithm used to treat the simultaneously manifesting schizophrenic and affective components. The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic approaches in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders to identify the need of different treatment strategy for these diseases. Methods: In a retrospective study, we evaluated the therapeutic algorithms used in all patients with SAD (n = 99) hospitalized at the Department of Psychiatry, Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Bratislava throughout the year 2010 and compared them with the therapeutic procedures used in all schizophrenia patients hospitalized in the same year (n = 120). Results: We found similarities between the groups of patients with schizophrenia and SAD in the number, type and length of hospitalizations and general patient management. Differences were identified in terms of the spectrum of used pharmacotherapy. For the treatment of both mental disorders, atypical antipsychotics were used the most. In the treatment of schizophrenia, we found the most frequent use of combined antipsychotic therapy, meaning oral and long-acting injectable forms. Patients with SAD mostly received antipsychotic monotherapy, but its complex effects were supplemented with other psychotropic drugs, mostly mood-stabilizers and anxiolytics. Conclusion: The results of our study show similarities between schizophrenia and SAD in terms of health care utilization, despite the fact that SAD is generally considered to be a “milder” disorder. On the other hand, this study indicates differences in the spectrum of pharmacotherapy used.

Gender differences in socio-demographics, clinical characteristic and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia: A community-based study in Shenzhen.

The objective of this study was to explore the gender differences of community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia in terms of socio-demographics, clinical characteristic and quality of life (QOL). A total of 433 community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia were recruited in Shenzhen city, China. Data were obtained from a face-to-face interview with standard research questionnaire. The QOL and insight were assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF and the Chinese version of the insight and treatment attitude questionnaire, respectively. This cross-sectional study included 206 male and 227 female patients. Male patients were more likely to be educated, employed, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol, and have an early age of illness onset. In contrast, female patients were more likely to be married/cohabitating and have drug side effects. There was no significant difference between genders across all QOL domain. Multiple regression analyzes showed that mental symptoms were negatively associated with all QOL domains, whereas frequency of exercise in the past year was positively associated with all QOL domains. Higher education levels, household per capita annual income in past year (≥100 000 RMB), employment status, IATQ score, drug side effects, marital status, and number of hospitalization were also significantly associated with specific QOL domains. There was significant gender difference in socio-demographics and clinical characteristics among community schizophrenia patients in Shenzhen city. Gender-specific intervention measures are needed to improve the functioning and QOL in patients with schizophrenia.