title: Attitudes toward menstruation in females with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this cross-sectional, case-controlled, observational study were to examine attitudes toward menstruation in female patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and in a control group, and to explore the associations between attitudes toward menstruation and psychopathology, menstrual regularity during antipsychotic treatment, and menstrual distress symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight patients treated with anti-psychotic medications for at least the previous 6 months were placed in irregular (irregular menstrual cycle) (n = 31) and regular (regular menstrual cycle) (n = 27) groups. Sixty-two, age-matched, healthy female participants with regular menstrual cycles were enrolled as a control group. Psychopathology was assessed by psychiatrists using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ) was used to assess attitudes toward menstruation, and symptom checklists based on the Moos Menstruation Distress Questionnaire (MMDQ) were used to assess menstrual distress symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with psychotic disorders (both irregular and regular groups) had more negative attitudes toward menstruation than the control group. In the Schizophrenia group, there was no association between the severity of psychotic symptoms and their influence on attitudes toward menstruation. Moreover, regular menstrual cycles during antipsychotic treatment and fewer menstrual distress symptoms were the two main predictors for more positive attitudes toward menstruation in the patient group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is one of the first studies to explore the relationship between psychotic symptoms and attitudes toward menstruation. The findings provide more support for the assumption that attitudes toward menstruation are derived from a woman's perception of her bodily experience rather than a psychiatric disorder.
authors.affiliation: * Department of Psychiatry , Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linko.
authors.forename: H-Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: L-W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kelsen
authors.forename: S-C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001290:Attitude; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation / Q000523:psychology*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents