Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders

There is cumulative evidence suggesting that estrogen might play a role in the development of schizophrenia and therefore may be useful in the treatment of this illness. On average, the first signs of schizophrenia appear 3 to 4 years later in women than in men, with a second peak in women around menopause.  Interestingly, men suffering from schizophrenia exacerbation demonstrate low serum estrogen and androgen levels.  Estrogen has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects in treating hormonally mediated affective disorders such as postnatal depression or perimenopausal depression.  A recent study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry suggests that estrogen may also be beneficial for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia.