Abstract
The involvement of gonadal hormones in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia has long been suspected because the psychosis differs in women and men and the illness first makes its appearance shortly after puberty. Changes in sex hormones have been linked with increased vulnerability to mood disorders in women, while testosterone have been associated with increased sexual drive and aggressiveness in men as well as women. Some studies have found abnormal levels of estrogens and testosterone in schizophrenia patients, but the results have been inconsistent and sometimes attributed to the hyperprolactinemia effect of antipsychotics, which may interfere with sex hormones production. The purpose of this review is to present the current knowledge on the link between blood levels of sex-hormones in women during the various stages of the female reproductive life (i.e. puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, contraception, and menopause) and the course of schizophrenia. We also attempt to optimize the clinical approach to women with schizophrenia at these different stages.
Highlights
During the fertile life and reproductive aging there are significant roles for gonadal hormones in the regulation of several CNS processes, especially mood and cognitive functions
In this review we summarize the current knowledge on the relationship between schizophrenia and gonadal hormones and its clinical significance and implications
The data and recommendations are based on literature derived from searching PubMed, and PsychINFO, with appropriate search terms for all years subsequent to the year 2000
Summary
During the fertile life and reproductive aging there are significant roles for gonadal hormones in the regulation of several CNS processes, especially mood and cognitive functions. Since sex steroids have both genomic and non-genomic actions, other factors may be responsible for the sex differences, (e.g. the influence of sex steroids on the expression patterns of genes) Higher brain functions, such as cognition, mood, and memory, are modulated by gonadal hormones [7]. Different interactions between receptors and co-regulators, chains of events originating at the cell membrane and leading to effects in the nucleus all interact to determine selective modulations of brain cells. All these actions affect brain function which change through adolescence, pregnancy, adulthood, up to menopause and ageing [12]. The data and recommendations are based on literature derived from searching PubMed, and PsychINFO, with appropriate search terms (schizophrenia, gonadal hormones, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, puberty, pregnancy, menstrual-cycle, contraception menopause) for all years subsequent to the year 2000
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
