title: Prolactin levels in drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hyperprolactinaemia as a side effect of dopamine receptor blockers is common in patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and may lead to amenorrhoea, galactorrhoea, hypogonadism, subfertility and osteoporosis. The aim of our study was to determine whether hyperprolactinaemia occurs also in patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders prior to any antipsychotic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4) and cortisol levels were measured in 40 newly diagnosed, drug naïve, patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and in 40 age and gender matched healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median prolactin value was 12.5 ng/ml (range: 2-38 ng/ml) for patients and 8.6 ng/ml (range: 4-17.6 ng/ml) for healthy subjects (p = 0.011). Patients had lower levels of T3 compared to healthy controls (mean: 1.08 ng/ml, SD: 0.16 vs. 1.18 ng/ml, 0.18, respectively; p = 0.008). Serum TSH, FT4 and cortisol levels were similar between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the difference in serum prolactin values was independent of thyroid function (TSH, FT4, T3) and serum cortisol levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A higher serum prolactin level was found in drug naïve, newly diagnosed patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders compared to healthy controls, prior to starting any antipsychotic treatment.
authors.affiliation: a Psychiatric Clinic, Medical School, University of Ioannina (UOI) , Ioannina , Greece ;
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petrikis
authors.affiliation: b Department of Endocrinology , Medical School, University of Ioannina (UOI) , Ioannina , Greece ;
authors.forename: Stelios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tigas
authors.affiliation: c Department of Computer Engineering, School of Applied Technology , Technological Educational Institute of Epirus (TEIEP) , Arta , Greece ;
authors.forename: Alexandros T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Tzallas
authors.affiliation: d Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine , Medical School, University of Ioannina (UOI) , Ioannina , Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitra T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Archimandriti
authors.affiliation: a Psychiatric Clinic, Medical School, University of Ioannina (UOI) , Ioannina , Greece ;
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skapinakis
authors.affiliation: a Psychiatric Clinic, Medical School, University of Ioannina (UOI) , Ioannina , Greece ;
authors.forename: Venetsanos
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mavreas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Drug-naïve patient; first episode; hyperprolactinaemia; schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders