Two patients,an African-American agnostic man and a Caucasian Baptist woman,are both diagnosed with schizophrenia,paranoid type.Both patients are 42 years old and live at the poverty level.The age of onset for the illness was 21 years in the male patient and 41 years in the female patient.What sociocultural factor accounts for the male patient's less favorable prognosis?

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Males tend to have earlier onset of schizophrenia than females.The mean age of onset is 31 years for males and 41 years for females.Age of onset is a critical factor in the prognosis for schizophrenia because early onset is associated with a longer course of illness and poorer prognosis.It is also known that women have a better response to both pharmacological and psychosocial treatments.Religious beliefs are not known to have a negative impact on the prognosis of schizophrenia.No available research supports the idea that Americans are less amenable to treatment or that males receive less social support than females when both live in poverty.

Two Patients,an African-American Agnostic Man and a Caucasian Baptist Woman,are