Early intervention for psychosis in the United States: Tailoring services to improve care for women

Specialty team based services for first-episode psychosis (FES), have the potential to transform the course of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Gender differences have been well described in the epidemiology, presentation and course of schizophrenia, however, less is known about possible gender based disparities in care. While we acknowledge that both genders have specific needs in terms of FES, we are focusing this viewpoint on women with first-episode psychosis (FEP), as this is the gender currently less represented in FES, hence at risk of being overlooked. Here, we briefly consider eight different factors that might disadvantage women in terms of both access to and quality of care in FES. We hope that awareness of these specific needs, will inform service refinements within an ongoing nationwide rollout of FES across the U.S.