INTRODUCTION: Differences in the course of schizophrenia for men and women include later onset and better prognosis in women. One possible explanation for that is the action of estradiol which could be a protective factor. This hypothesis is reinforced by some factors such as worsening of the disease symptoms after delivery and near the onset of the menstrual period when the estradiol levels are lower. METHODS: Thirty-nine female schizophrenic patients (mean age: 34.2 years old) admitted to hospital due to psychotic relapse were interviewed. They reported regular menstrual cycles. The BPRS scale was used to evaluate the severity of the symptoms, and the day of the menstrual cycle at their admission was registered during their first interview or during their stay by the presence of menstrual bleeding. Patients were categorized in 3 groups according to the phase of the menstrual cycle at their admission. The observed distribution was compared with the distribution expected if there were no differences in the number of women between the 3 groups. RESULTS: An increase of admissions in the beginning and the end of the menstrual cycle was observed (Chi-square = 6.02, p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: There is a relationship between admission to psychiatric hospital and the phase of the menstrual cycle in schizophrenic women.
Schizophrenia; Gender; Estradiol; Menstrual cycle; Relapse; Psychotic symptoms
