Journal of International Psychiatry

[Abstract] Objective To explore the relationship between sex hormone levels, clinical symptoms, and cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. Methods Ninety patients with schizophrenia from March 2020 to August 2022 were selected as the study subjects, and they were divided into the observation group. Ninety age and gender matched normal individuals were included and were set as the control group. The levels of sex hormones between two groups of patients were compared. The clinical symptoms of schizophrenia were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). The cognitive function were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Inventory (MoCA). The correlation between sex hormone levels and PANSS score and MoCA score in patients with schizophrenia were analyzed. Results The levels of prolactin (PRL) in the observation group males were significantly higher than those in the control group males, while estradiol (E2), testosterone (Testo), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were significantly lower than those in the control group males (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in progesterone (PROG) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels (P>0.05). The levels of PRL and PROG in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the levels of TestO and E2 were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in FSH and LH (P>0.05); The MoCA score of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). The PRL level in male and female patients is positively correlated with PANSS score, negatively correlated with MoCA score, and negatively correlated with E2, ESTO, PANSS score, and positively correlated with MoCA score (P<0.05). Conclusion There are significant differences in the levels of sex hormones such as PRL, TestO, and E2 between patients with schizophrenia and the normal population, which may be related to mental symptoms and cognitive impairment.

Key words Schizophrenia; Sexual Hormones; Clinical Symptoms; Cognitive Function