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Relationship Between Gonadal Hormone Levels and Symptom Severity in Female Patients With Schizophrenia
Erdi Sezer1, Ferdi Köşger2, Ali Ercan Altınöz2
1Clinic of Psychiatry, Health Sciences University İzmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
Objective:
It is thought that sex-specific differences in schizophrenia may be associated with gonadal hormones, especially estrogen. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, estradiol, and progesterone serum levels and symptom severity during the menstrual cycle in female patients with schizophrenia.
Methods:
Serum samples were taken in the follicular and periovulatory phases from 32 female patients with schizophrenia; and FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol, and progesterone levels were performed. Simultaneously, the patients were administered positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS), Calgary depression scale for schizophrenia (CDSS), and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A).
Results:
PANSS (z = -2.52, P < .001), HAM-A (z = -3.60, P < .001), and CDSS (z = -2.52, P = .012) scores were lower in the periovulatory phase than in the follicular phase. Negative correlations between FSH and PANSS positive symptom subscale (r = -0.393, P = .035), and between prolactin and PANSS total score (r = -0.406, P = .029) were detected.
Conclusion:
Hypoestrogenism should be studied more in patients with schizophrenia. Studies with large samples evaluating FSH, LH, prolactin, and progesterone together with estrogen are needed to be able to safely use gonadal hormones, which may be related to schizophrenia symptom severity, especially in patients who do not respond adequately to treatment.
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