1. [Women, schizophrenia and oestrogen; neurobiological hypotheses and hormonetherapy studies].
- Author
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Boerma MA, van der Stel JC, van Amelsvoort T, Linszen DH, and de Haan L
- Subjects
- Epigenesis, Genetic, Estrogen Replacement Therapy, Estrogens blood, Female, Humans, Risk Factors, Schizophrenia blood, Schizophrenia diagnosis, Schizophrenia genetics, Sex Factors, Estrogens physiology, Schizophrenia epidemiology
- Abstract
Background: Gender differences play a role in the origin and course of schizophrenia. It has been hypothesised that the gonadal hormone, oestrogen, may possibly perform a protective function in the development of certain forms of schizophrenia., Aim: To review neurobiological hypotheses concerning the role of oestrogen in the development and course of schizophrenia., Method: The relevant literature was consulted with the help of PubMed, textbooks and bibliographic references; the search terms used were 'oestrogen', 'schizophrenia', 'gender', 'epigenetics', 'psychosis', 'women' and 'brain'. There were no restrictions with regards to the time-period., Results: Neuro-imaging, animal experiments and hormone-therapy studies showed several effects of oestrogen in the field of epigenetics, morphology of the brain, interaction with neurotransmitters and neuroprotection., Conclusion: Oestrogen is an important link in a complex of factors that clearly play a role in the varying development of schizophrenia in men and women. So far, however, there is insufficient evidence to support the existence of a specific mechanism that would explain why oestrogen may perform a protective function in schizophrenia.
- Published
- 2010