Serum hormone levels and cognitive functioning in male schizophrenia patients

Abstract

Background

Hormones deregulation is a common feature in schizophrenia. Among the hormones that gained increased interest are sex hormones, thyroid hormones and prolactin. However, the question whether there is an impact of the hormonal disturbances on cognitive functioning of schizophrenia patients is rarely addressed.

Objective

To assess the relationship between serum levels of hormones and cognitive abilities in male schizophrenic patients.

Subjects and methods

In the index group, there were 15 schizophrenia male patients, mean age 36. The control group was formed by 15 healthy volunteers, mean age 36. In the two groups, serum hormones levels were measured and neuropsychological tests were performed. Analysed hormones included thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, testosterone, progesterone and prolactin. Cognitive abilities were measured with the following tests: Trail Making Test (TMT) Part A and B, Semantic Category Fluency (SCF), Initial Letter Fluency (ILF) and Stroop Task Part 1 and 2.

Results

The levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were lower in the index group than in the control group (3.01 mIU/mL vs 5.90 mIU/mL; 3.83 mIU/mL vs 5.28 mIU/mL; 2.76 ng/mL vs 4.69 ng/mL; accordingly) while the level of prolactin was higher in the index group (620 uIU/mL vs 118 uIU/mL). Patients performed worse that controls in all neuropsychological tests. The differences in scores of TMT Part B, ILF and Stroop Task Part 2 were found to be statistically significant.

Conclusions

There was no significant relationship between serum level of analysed hormones and performance on cognitive tasks.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.