Association of estrogen levels with neuropsychological performance in women with schizophrenia.

Publication/Presentation Date

7-1-2001

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine the relationship of estrogen levels with psychiatric symptoms and neuropsychological function in female patients with schizophrenia.

METHOD: Psychiatric symptoms were assessed and average estrogen and progesterone levels from four consecutive weekly blood samples were measured in 22 female inpatients with schizophrenia who were also administered a neuropsychological battery.

RESULTS: There were strong positive correlations between average estrogen level and cognitive function, especially measures of global cognitive function, verbal and spatial declarative memory, and perceptual-motor speed. Correlations of hormone levels with psychiatric symptoms were nonsignificant.

CONCLUSIONS: Higher estrogen levels in female patients with schizophrenia are associated with better cognitive ability. These results may have implications for potential treatment of cognitive dysfunction with adjunctive estrogen in female patients with schizophrenia.

Volume

158

Issue

7

First Page

1134

Last Page

1139

ISSN

0002-953X

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

11431236

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

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