Oestrogen--a new treatment approach for schizophrenia?
- PMID: 19220172
- DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02373.x
Oestrogen--a new treatment approach for schizophrenia?
Abstract
The oestrogen protection hypothesis proposes that oestrogen has a protective effect against onset of schizophrenia. In support of this: Epidemiological studies have shown that young women are less likely to develop schizophrenia than men of the same age, and women are more likely to develop late-onset schizophrenia after menopause. Clinical studies have shown higher psychotic symptoms in perimenopausal women, and women at the low oestrogen phase of the menstrual cycle. Animal studies provide further evidence in support of the oestrogen protection hypothesis. Three randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trials and an open-label study showed that adding oestradiol to women's usual antipsychotic medications was associated with significant abatement of schizophrenia symptoms. A small study of men with schizophrenia who received oral oestradiol valerate also showed a significant abatement in psychotic symptoms. Although oestrogen appears to be a useful treatment for schizophrenia, further research is required to determine the correct dose and duration of use of oestradiol. New types of oestrogen compounds may provide a safer, non-feminising approach for the treatment of schizophrenia.
Similar articles
-
Improvement in depression with oestrogen treatment in women with schizophrenia.Arch Womens Ment Health. 2020 Apr;23(2):149-154. doi: 10.1007/s00737-019-00959-3. Epub 2019 Mar 21. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2020. PMID: 30903287 Clinical Trial.
-
Main risk factors for schizophrenia: increased familial loading and pre- and peri-natal complications antagonize the protective effect of oestrogen in women.Schizophr Res. 2000 Jul 7;44(1):81-93. doi: 10.1016/s0920-9964(99)00139-5. Schizophr Res. 2000. PMID: 10867314
-
Hormones and schizophrenia.Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2012 Mar;25(2):89-95. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e328350360e. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2012. PMID: 22249082 Review.
-
Is oestrogen neuroprotective?Psychiatr Danub. 2009 Sep;21 Suppl 1:120-7. Psychiatr Danub. 2009. PMID: 19789496 Review.
-
A clinical trial of adjunctive oestrogen treatment in women with schizophrenia.Arch Womens Ment Health. 2002 Nov;5(3):99-104. doi: 10.1007/s00737-002-0001-5. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2002. PMID: 12510212 Clinical Trial.
Cited by
-
Insights into rapid modulation of neuroplasticity by brain estrogens.Pharmacol Rev. 2013 Sep 27;65(4):1318-50. doi: 10.1124/pr.111.005272. Print 2013. Pharmacol Rev. 2013. PMID: 24076546 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Association of increased prenatal estrogen with risk factors for schizophrenia.Schizophr Bull. 2011 Sep;37(5):946-9. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbp161. Epub 2010 Jan 6. Schizophr Bull. 2011. PMID: 20053866 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Steroids-dopamine interactions in the pathophysiology and treatment of CNS disorders.CNS Neurosci Ther. 2010 Jun;16(3):e43-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-5949.2010.00163.x. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2010. PMID: 20557567 Free PMC article. Review.
-
The role of estrogen in the treatment of men with schizophrenia.Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Summer;11(3):129-36. doi: 10.5812/ijem.6615. Epub 2013 Jul 1. Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2013. PMID: 24348584 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Turner syndrome and sexual differentiation of the brain: implications for understanding male-biased neurodevelopmental disorders.J Neurodev Disord. 2011 Dec;3(4):293-306. doi: 10.1007/s11689-011-9089-0. Epub 2011 Aug 5. J Neurodev Disord. 2011. PMID: 21818630 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical