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Published on: February 23, 2015
[Women, schizophrenia and oestrogen; neurobiological hypotheses and hormonetherapy studies]
M A M Boerma1, J C van der Stel, Th van Amelsvoort
1m.boerma@ggzingeest.nl
Background:
Gender differences play a role in the origin and course of schizophrenia. It has been hypothesised that the gonadal hormone, oestrogen, may possibly perform a protective function in the development of certain forms of schizophrenia.
Aim:
To review neurobiological hypotheses concerning the role of oestrogen in the development and course of schizophrenia.
Method:
The relevant literature was consulted with the help of PubMed, textbooks and bibliographic references; the search terms used were 'oestrogen', 'schizophrenia', 'gender', 'epigenetics', 'psychosis', 'women' and 'brain'. There were no restrictions with regards to the time-period.
Results:
Neuro-imaging, animal experiments and hormone-therapy studies showed several effects of oestrogen in the field of epigenetics, morphology of the brain, interaction with neurotransmitters and neuroprotection.
Conclusion:
Oestrogen is an important link in a complex of factors that clearly play a role in the varying development of schizophrenia in men and women. So far, however, there is insufficient evidence to support the existence of a specific mechanism that would explain why oestrogen may perform a protective function in schizophrenia.
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