title: Testosterone levels and clinical features of schizophrenia with emphasis on negative symptoms and aggression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aggressive behavior and negative symptoms are two features of schizophrenia that may have a hormonal basis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare testosterone level with clinical features of schizophrenia, focusing on negative symptoms and aggressive behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 120 male schizophrenic patients (ages 18-40) classified into non-aggressive (n = 60) and aggressive (n = 60) groups. Depending on the type of aggression that was manifested prior to admission, the aggressive group was divided into violent (n = 32) and suicidal (n = 28) subgroups. Psychopathological severity, violence and suicidality were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Overt Aggression Scale and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, respectively. Total serum testosterone level was determined on the same morning that symptoms were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the non-aggressive group, testosterone level was negatively correlated with the score on the negative subscale of PANSS (P = 0.04) and depression (P = 0.013), and positively correlated with excitement (P = 0.027), hostility (P = 0.02) and impulsive behavior (P = 0.008). In the aggressive group, testosterone level had non-significant correlation with these parameters, and with violent or suicidal behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirmed that non-aggressive male schizophrenic patients with lower levels of testosterone had a greater severity of negative symptoms. In aggressive patients, there was no correlation between testosterone and clinical features of the disorder or the degree or type of aggression. These findings indicate that therapeutic strategies targeting testosterone could be useful in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Mirna Sisek-Šprem, M.D, Ph.D., Integral Ward, University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče , Zagreb , Croatia.
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sisek-Šprem
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Križaj
authors.forename: Vlado
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jukić
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milošević
authors.forename: Zrinka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Petrović
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herceg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D009341:Negativism; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Aggressiveness; Clinical features; Negative symptoms; Schizophrenia; Testosterone