title: Neuroactive Steroids in First-Episode Psychosis: A Role for Progesterone?
abstract: Neuroactive steroids may play a role in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders, but few studies examined this issue. We compared serum levels of cortisol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and progesterone between a representative sample of first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients and age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Furthermore, we analyzed the associations between neuroactive steroids levels and the severity of psychotic symptom dimensions. Male patients had lower levels of progesterone than controls (p= 0.03). Progesterone levels were inversely associated with the severity of positive symptoms (p= 0.007). Consistent with preclinical findings, results suggest that progesterone might have a role in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology and Genetics, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genova, Genova, Italy; Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Martino
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7262-3528
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belvederi Murri
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Flaminia
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2601-2694
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Bologna Transcultural Psychosomatic Team (BoTPT), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Uberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pagotto
authors.affiliation: Bologna Transcultural Psychosomatic Team (BoTPT), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Section of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonora
authors.affiliation: Bologna Transcultural Psychosomatic Team (BoTPT), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Triolo
authors.affiliation: Bologna Transcultural Psychosomatic Team (BoTPT), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiri
authors.affiliation: Bologna Transcultural Psychosomatic Team (BoTPT), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5536-0754
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Allegri
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6748-3041
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mezzullo
authors.affiliation: Bologna Transcultural Psychosomatic Team (BoTPT), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mondelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pariante
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK; Bologna Transcultural Psychosomatic Team (BoTPT), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5786-2520
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tarricone