The relationship between aggression and thyroid hormone and cortisol in schizophrenic patients

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between aggressive behavior with thyroid hormone or cortisol and in schizophrenic patients. Methods According to the past violence history and modified overt aggression scale(MOAS)weighted total scores, 108 schizophrenic patients were divided into aggressive group(n=69) and non-aggressive group(n=39). Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total scores, serum thyroid hormone levels and cortisol concentration were compared between the two groups before and after 2, 4 weeks treatment. And correlations of PANSS and sub-scales scores, thyroid hormone levels and cortisol concentration with MOAS weighted total scores and subscales scores were analyzed before these patients receiving treatment. Results Before treatment, total scores of PANSS, positive symptoms and general psychopathology scores in aggressive group((94.19±12.71), (23.77±4.94), (52.61±6.45))were higher than that in non-aggressive group ((83.26±11.21), (21.36±7.10), (45.49±6.84)) and these differences were significant(P 0.05). Free thyroxine(FT4) level of aggressive group ( (14.41±3.58)pmol/L) was higher than that of non-aggressive group ((12.95±2.66)pmol/L) before treatment and the difference was significant(P 0.05). After 2 or 4 weeks treatment, the differences between the two groups in TSH, FT3, FT4, TT3, TT4 levels were not significant(P>0.05). The differences between the two groups of cortisol concentration were not significant before and after 2, 4 weeks treatment(P>0.05). MOAS weighted total scores were positively correlated with PANSS total scores, negative symptoms scores, general psychopathology scores and level of FT4, and their r values were 0.471, 0.204, 0.531, 0.239(all P<0.05). Verbal aggression was positively correlated with PANSS total scores, positive symptoms scores and general psychopathology scores, and their r values were 0.213, 0.215, 0.292(P<0.05). Auto-aggression was positively correlated with PANSS total scores and general psychopathology scores, and their r values were 0.278, 0.382(P<0.05). Psychical aggression was positively correlated with PANSS total scores, negative symptoms scores, general psychopathology scores and level of FT4, and their r values were 0.361, 0.193, 0.338, 0.276(P<0.05). Conclusion The total scores of PANSS, positive symptoms, general psychopathology scores, level of FT4 and their variances can reflect severity of aggression and predict aggressive behavior in schizophrenic patients. Concentration of cortisol is not associated with aggressive behavior and can not be used as a predictor of aggressive behavior in schizophrenic patients. Key words: Schizophrenia; Aggression; Thyroid hormone; Cortisol