Sex differences in fluid and crystalized intelligence focus on people with psychosis

• Main Authors: Ćosović Vojislav, Todorović Nevena, Andrić-Petrović Sanja, Marić Nađa P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade 2016-01-01
• Series: Psihijatrija Danas
• Subjects: psychosis; intelligence; iq tests; sex difference
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0350-2538/2016/0350-25381602201C.pdf

Introduction: Fluid intelligence is described as ability to rapidly solve novel problems and capacity to manage and easily adapt to new situations. Crystallized intelligence reflects ability to timely use lifetime-learned information and skills. Bearing in mind that intelligence is one of the impaired cognitive functions in psychosis, a question arises there are if any sex differences in patients, regarding total IQ, fluid or crystallized intelligence. Aim: To evaluate sex differences in psychosis and to analyze the differences between patients and sex, age and origin matched healthy controls. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated schizophrenia spectrum patients (F20-29 based on ICD10; n = 52, age = 29,3±5,9 years, illness duration <10 years) and controls (n = 51, age = 29,8±6,3 years). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. Results: Analyzing sex differences in total IQ, fluid and crystalized IQ, it has been found that women exhibited lower crystallized intelligence scores both in the patient group (p = 0,039) and in the control group (p = 0,016). Among male patients, lower scores were found in comparison to the healthy male controls in all of the categories, while female patients scores in crystallized intelligence were not significantly different in comparison to female healthy group ((p = 0,160). Conclusion: In the male subjects with psychosis, a deficit was found in both subdomains of intelligence, while in female subjects it was found in fluid intelligence only. Factors which could serve as protective from greater cognitive impairment in female patients need further evaluation, as a sign of potential mechanisms that could ameliorate the course and prognosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders.