The influence of gonadal hormones on periodicity of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
OBJECTIVE
This paper reviews the evidence linking gonadal hormones and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms.


METHODS
Four case reports of the relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and exogenous sex hormone changes are presented. These cases are reviewed within the context of other case reports and the literature on the relationship between serotonin, gonadal hormones and OCD.


RESULTS
The authors suggest that there is a relationship between onset or exacerbation of OCD and changes in gonadal hormones.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians should carefully evaluate patients for exogenous and endogenous changes in gonadal hormones when evaluating onset or exacerbation of OCD.
Weiss
M
M
Department of Child Psychiatry, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver.
Baerg
E
E
Wisebord
S
S
Temple
J
J
D000328:Adult; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010507:Periodicity
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones