SCHIZOPHRENIA AND ESTROGENS - IS THERE AN ASSOCIATION

Some early psychiatrists already believed that schizophrenic disorders were associated with a disturbed balance of sexual hormones. This bel ief was based on the observation of a. an ''insufficient functioning o f the sexual glands'' with so-called ''hypoestrogenism'', and b. an in fluence of ovarian function on schizophrenic psychoses. As this review shows, there are findings from recent research which seem to confirm that estrogens may have a protective effect in schizophrenia. There ar e also occasional hints at a possible ''hypoestrogenism'' in schizophr enia. In our own epidemiological, clinical and animal studies the hypo thesis of a protective effect of oestrogens was for the first time sys tematically examined and confirmed. Oestrogens seem to modulate the se nsitivity of D2-receptors in the brain, and clinically they seem to ha ve a neuroleptic-like effect. These findings may have important implic ations for the prevention and therapy of schizophrenic disorders. Furt hermore, our findings indicate the need to reinvestigate the question of a disturbed balance of sexual hormones in schizophrenic disorders. Further research on the role of oestrogens in schizophrenic disorders could in our opinion contribute to understanding the still unclear, po ssibly aetiologically heterogeneous pathogenetic mechanism of schizoph renic psychoses.