Survey study, 2018
How do women respond differently to psychiatric medications and why do we need sex-specific treatments?
Women respond differently to psychiatric medications than men because of biological differences in brain receptors and hormones. Sex-specific treatments are important for conditions like PMDD and postpartum depression.
What they did
This is a review article that summarizes recent research on sex differences in psychiatric illness and treatment response. It discusses differences in brain receptors, hormones, medication response, and stress between men and women.
What they found
Women have higher prevalence of certain psychiatric illnesses and different treatment responses than men. There are sex differences in how brain receptors respond to stress. Oxytocin shows different effects in men and women. Studies in female rats showed that rapid progesterone changes caused exaggerated stress responses and reduced response to anti-anxiety medications, which could be prevented with low-dose fluoxetine.
What it means for you
Women and men may need different psychiatric treatments because of biological differences. This is especially important for disorders that affect only women like PMDD and postpartum depression. The main limit is that this is a review summarizing other research, not new original data.
About the study
- Original title
- Female psychopharmacology matters! Towards a sex-specific psychopharmacology
- Authors
- Bolea-Alamanac B, Bailey SJ, Lovick TA et al.
- Journal
- Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
- Year
- 2018
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None - review article
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1177/0269881117747578
Topics
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