Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

44
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
44
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

31
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
31
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders01:27

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

370
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
370
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

58.9K
The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
58.9K
Adrenal Gland Disorders01:27

Adrenal Gland Disorders

1.3K
Adrenal gland disorders manifest when the production of adrenal hormones deviates from the norm, resulting in either excessive or insufficient concentrations.
Adrenal insufficiency, characterized by insufficient cortisol and aldosterone production, leads to conditions like Addison's disease. This disorder, affecting the adrenal cortex, exhibits symptoms such as skin bronzing, dehydration, low blood pressure, fatigue, and weight loss. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic ailment causing...
1.3K
Schizophrenia01:17

Schizophrenia

55
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those...
55

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Multidomain cognitive impairment, along with comorbidities and psychiatric hospitalizations, shorten survival time of patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia: A long term, naturalistic follow-up study.

Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD·2026
Same author

The effect of vaginal tamoxifen on symptoms of anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women with and without breast cancer.

Maturitas·2026
Same author

Associations between psychological needs satisfaction, humor styles, and psychological distress in emerging adults.

Frontiers in psychology·2026
Same author

The influence of endogenous and exogenous sex steroid hormones and social hierarchy on decision-making: A systematic review.

Psychoneuroendocrinology·2026
Same author

Quality of life in early-phase schizophrenia patients starting treatment with long-acting injectable vs. oral antipsychotic drugs: Data from the European Long-acting Antipsychotics in Schizophrenia Trial (EULAST).

European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·2026
Same author

Estradiol, Emotion Regulation, and the Limbic System: Effects on Gray Matter Volume.

Biological psychiatry global open science·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2025

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice
09:37

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice

Published on: August 13, 2020

11.0K

Cortisol in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A comprehensive meta-analysis.

Lydia Kogler1, Rui Wang2, Teresa Luther3

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Centre for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, Calwerstrasse 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) Partner Site Tübingen 72076 Tübingen, Germany.

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology
|February 22, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Antipsychotic treatment lowers cortisol in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Patients with SSD show altered cortisol levels, particularly elevated morning and evening baseline cortisol, and reduced suppression after dexamethasone, compared to healthy controls.

Keywords:
Antipsychotic treatmentCortisolDexamethasoneHigh-riskMental disordersSchizophrenia spectrum disordersStress

More Related Videos

A Chronic Immobilization Stress Protocol for Inducing Depression-Like Behavior in Mice
05:28

A Chronic Immobilization Stress Protocol for Inducing Depression-Like Behavior in Mice

Published on: May 15, 2019

22.0K
A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
06:15

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

12.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 26, 2025

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice
09:37

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice

Published on: August 13, 2020

11.0K
A Chronic Immobilization Stress Protocol for Inducing Depression-Like Behavior in Mice
05:28

A Chronic Immobilization Stress Protocol for Inducing Depression-Like Behavior in Mice

Published on: May 15, 2019

22.0K
A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
06:15

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

12.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Psychiatry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, evidenced by altered cortisol levels.
  • Antipsychotic medications are a primary treatment for SSD, potentially influencing HPA axis activity and cortisol profiles.
  • Understanding cortisol dynamics in SSD is crucial for elucidating disease mechanisms and treatment effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis of cortisol alterations in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD).
  • To assess the impact of antipsychotic treatment on cortisol levels in SSD patients.
  • To compare cortisol parameters (baseline, stress reactivity, hair cortisol, dexamethasone suppression) between SSD patients and healthy controls (HC).

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO up to November 2024.
  • Meta-analyses were conducted on data from 121 studies, including 9049 SSD patients.
  • Cortisol levels were analyzed concerning antipsychotic treatment effects, stress reactivity, hair cortisol, and baseline diurnal variations in SSD versus HC.

Main Results:

  • Antipsychotic treatment significantly reduced cortisol levels in SSD patients (g = -0.480, p = 0.005).
  • SSD patients exhibited reduced cortisol suppression following dexamethasone administration (g = 0.299, p = 0.005) and elevated morning (g = 0.38, p < 0.001) and evening (g = 0.368, p = 0.014) baseline cortisol compared to HC.
  • No significant differences were found in afternoon baseline cortisol, hair cortisol, or cortisol reactivity to stress between SSD patients and HC.

Conclusions:

  • The findings confirm significant alterations in cortisol regulation in SSD, including blunted dexamethasone suppression and diurnal variations.
  • Antipsychotic treatment demonstrates a cortisol-lowering effect in individuals with SSD.
  • These results enhance the understanding of HPA axis dysregulation in SSD and the pharmacological modulation of cortisol.