 Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects up to two percent of the adult population. Patients present with a variety of symptoms including hallucinations, delusions and bizarre behaviour while some develop additional negative symptoms such as amotivational states and poverty of thought. Schizophrenia is generally thought to be an organic brain disorder with psychosocial determinants for course and outcome. The illness appears to be heterogenous with groups of patients presenting with distinct and differing patterns of psychopathology and illness course. Part of this heterogeneity includes distinct male and female subtypes of schizophrenia. 