Case report, 1993
Can hormone changes cause violent and sexually inappropriate behavior in girls?
Possibly. The study found that peaks in one hormone (gonadotropin) happened at the same times as violent and sexually inappropriate behavior in two girls. When they received medicines to lower these hormones, their behavior improved markedly.
What they did
Two adolescent girls with aggressive and sexually inappropriate behavior starting at puberty were studied. Their hormone levels were measured daily and their behavior was tracked regularly. Each girl was treated with a medicine to lower hormone levels: one received medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera) and the other received leuprolide acetate (Lupron-Depot).
What they found
Peaks in gonadotropin levels happened at the same times as violent and sexually inappropriate behavior, even though androgen levels were normal. Both girls showed markedly improved behavior after hormone-suppressing medication.
What it means for you
This suggests severe behavioral changes may be linked to hormone spikes in some adolescent girls, and medicines that lower hormones may help. The main limit is that this is only two girls, so we do not know if this applies more widely.
2
adolescent girls studied
About the study
- Original title
- Gonadotropin-associated psychosis in perimenstrual behavior disorder
- Authors
- Constant M, Abrams CA, Chasalow FI
- Journal
- Hormone research
- Year
- 1993
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- Medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera) in one girl, leuprolide acetate (Lupron-Depot) in the other
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1159/000183783
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