2016/11/08 by Amnon Brzezinski, Noa A. Brzezinski‐Sinai, Mary V. Seeman · 1 citation
Medicine · #Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments #Schizophrenia research and treatment #Sexual function and dysfunction studies
paper · doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000000772
openalex publication_date 2016/11/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to examine three questions: What are the risks and benefits of treating women with schizophrenia with hormone therapy (HT) at menopause? Should the antipsychotic regimen be changed at menopause? Do early- and late-onset women with schizophrenia respond differently to HT at menopause? METHODS: MEDLINE databases for the years 1990 to 2016 were searched using the following interactive terms: schizophrenia, gender, menopause, estrogen, and hormones. The selected articles (62 out of 800 abstracts) were chosen on the basis of their applicability to the objectives of this targeted narrative review. RESULTS: HT during the perimenopause in women with schizophrenia ameliorates psychotic and cognitive symptoms, and may also help affective symptoms. Vasomotor, genitourinary, and sleep symptoms are also reduced. Depending on the woman's age and personal risk factors and antipsychotic side effects, the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease may be increased. Antipsychotic types and doses may need to be adjusted at menopause, as may be the mode of administration. CONCLUSIONS: Both HT and changes in antipsychotic management should be considered for women with schizophrenia at menopause. The question about differences in response between early- and late-onset women cannot yet be answered.