title: Clinical features of schizophrenia in a woman with hyperandrogenism.
abstract: Ample evidence supports sex differences in the clinical features of schizophrenia. In this regard, estrogen may contribute to later onset and less severe course of illness in women. Direct investigation of hormonal status in schizophrenia is extremely difficult. The present report documents the clinical features of schizophrenia in a young woman with long-standing hyperandrogenism related to polycystic ovarian disease. We postulate that hyperandrogenism contributed to a relatively early onset, olfactory dysfunction, and other clinical features of schizophrenia more commonly associated with men. Additionally, acute estrogen depletion following cessation of oral contraceptives may have precipitated psychosis, while recommencement of oral contraceptives could have contributed to subsequent improvement in symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. lkopala@is.dal.ca
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kopala
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lewine
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Good
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fluker
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Martzke
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lapointe
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Honer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012903:Smell
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D004967:Estrogens; D018967:Risperidone