EPA-0218 - The role of ovarian function in the psychopathology of delusional disorder

Abstract

Introduction Recent evidence supports an association between oestrogen levels and severity of psychopathology in women with schizophrenia. However, few studies have investigated differences in the psychopathology of premenopausal and postmenopausal female delusional disorder (DD). Objectives To investigate whether men, premenopausal and postmenopausal women differ in age at onset and psychopathology. Methods Psychopathological symptoms were assessed in 64 outpatients with DD (DSM-IV-TR), as part of the Study on the Development and Course of Delusional Disorder in mean-age and the Elderly (DEVCODEL Study), at baseline and after 6 months. Scores in the PANSS scale, PSP for functionality, HRSD-17 items, C-SSRS for suicide and the first three items of the SUMD Scale were outcome variables. ANOVA and Chi-square tests were performed. Psychopathological differences between groups were investigated by applying Analysis of Covariance. Results 68.8% of the sample were postmenopausal women. When compared to premenopausal women and men, postmenopausal women had a lateonset disease (p Conclusions Our results support the notion that postmenopausal DD women have higher severity in psychopathology in comparison with premenopausal women and men.