Which disorders are women more likely to experience?

Women are more likely to experience anxiety and mood disorders due to a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Research indicates that women often have higher rates of conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. Hormonal fluctuations, particularly those related to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, can also influence mood and anxiety levels in women.

Additionally, women may be more likely to seek help for emotional issues, which can result in higher reported prevalence rates of these disorders compared to men. The role of societal expectations and gender norms can also contribute to the development and recognition of these disorders, as women might express emotional distress differently than men.

In contrast, other disorders such as alcohol and drug abuse tend to be more prevalent in men, while personality disorders do not show the same gender discrepancies in prevalence, although certain eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa, have a higher incidence in women. Psychotic and cognitive disorders, including schizophrenia and dementia, tend to affect both genders similarly, though some specific conditions may be slightly more common in one gender.