Case report, 2002
Does taking estrogen help reduce symptoms that get worse before your period?
In a small study of 4 women with schizophrenia, estrogen improved symptoms in 2 of them (with one showing major improvement), but responses varied widely.
What they did
Four women with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who experienced worsening symptoms before their period took estrogen pills (Premarin 0.625 mg) daily for 3 months. Their symptoms were measured using a standard evaluation scale before, during, and after treatment.
What they found
Two of the four women had less worsening of symptoms before their periods while taking estrogen, and one of these two had major improvement. After the estrogen was stopped, three of the four women scored worse on the evaluation scale than they had been before starting treatment.
What it means for you
Estrogen may help some women whose symptoms get worse before their periods, but people respond very differently. The main limits are the small number of women, no control group for comparison, short treatment time, and it is unclear whether the women got worse after stopping because the medication wore off or for other reasons.
4
women in the study
2
women who improved while taking estrogen
0.625 mg
daily dose of estrogen (Premarin)
About the study
- Original title
- Estrogen supplementation for female schizophrenics treated with atypical antipsychotics
- Authors
- Liao DL, Chen H, Lee SM et al.
- Journal
- General hospital psychiatry
- Year
- 2002
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- Daily estrogen pills (Premarin 0.625 mg) for 3 months
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0163-8343(02)00193-7
Topics
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