title: Beneficial effects of add-on raloxifene in schizophrenia.
abstract: The role of estrogens in schizophrenia has been proposed from the observation of schizophrenia occurring later and with symptom severity being lesser in women. Utility of estrogens in treatment of psychoses, though seen to be useful, comes with inherent risks of neoplasias, given its agonistic action on breast and endometrium. This risk can be overcome with use of selective estrogen receptor modulators, like raloxifene. Raloxifene has been used in schizophrenia, with improvement in symptoms and cognitive functions. We report the use of raloxifene as an adjunctive treatment, with risperidone, in treatment-resistant form of schizophrenia. The patient, a 29-year-old woman, over a 7-month followup period, showed significant improvement in sociooccupational functioning, with reduction in symptom severity.
authors.affiliation: The Metabolic Clinic in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Dhanya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raveendranathan
authors.forename: Venkataram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shivakumar
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jayaram
authors.forename: Naren P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Ganesan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Venkatasubramanian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride