Cohort study, 1997
Do symptoms of schizophrenia change during the menstrual cycle?
Menstrual cycle-related changes occur in women with schizophrenia, but these changes are mainly in mood and body symptoms, not in the core psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia.
What they did
A longitudinal study of 39 hospitalized women with schizophrenia collected daily ratings of affective, somatic, behavioral, and psychotic symptoms across their menstrual cycles using standardized rating scales.
What they found
Affective (mood) and somatic (body) symptoms showed exacerbation related to the menstrual cycle, similar to what occurs in women without mental illness and in women with depression. Psychotic symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia did not show significant cycle-related changes. Symptom exacerbation was not specific to the premenstrual phase; some symptoms occurred during menstrual and postmenstrual phases.
What it means for you
Menstrual cycle effects in women with schizophrenia appear to be a separate phenomenon from the disorder itself, affecting mood and body symptoms much like they do in other women. However, all participants were on psychiatric medication, which may have hidden true cycle effects on psychotic symptoms. More research is needed.
39
women studied
daily
symptom tracking frequency
About the study
- Original title
- Menstrually related symptom changes in women with schizophrenia
- Authors
- Harris AH
- Journal
- Schizophrenia research
- Year
- 1997
- Study design
- Cohort study
- What was tested
- None (observation only)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0920-9964(97)00073-x
Topics
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