E-Book Overview
A number of studies, mostly focusing on estrogen replacement therapy in women, have reported beneficial actions of these hormones on various neurobiological and neuropathological parameters in health and disease. Recent research has focused on gender differences and there is increasing evidence that estrogens exert protective effects in schizophrenia. Hormonal fluctuations or lack of estrogen may increase the risk of depression among vulnerable women. Treatment of depression with estrogen may stabilize and restore disrupted homeostasis – as during post-partum, premenstrual, or perimenopausal conditions – and act as a psychomodulator to offset vulnerability to dysphoric mood when estrogen levels are significantly decreased, as in the case of postmenopausal women. Studies on the effect of estrogens on Alzheimer’s Disease are still rather controversial, they do, however, facilitate the hypothesis that estrogens may have a modifying effect on the onset and course of AD, at least in subgroups of patients.
E-Book Content
W Niels Bergemann Anita Riecher-Rössler (eds.) Estrogen Effects in Psychiatric Disorders SpringerWienNewYork Dr. Dr. Niels Bergemann Department of Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Germany Prof. Dr. Anita Riecher-Rössler Psychiatric Outpatient Department, University of Basel, Switzerland This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically those of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, broadcasting, reproduction by photocopying machines or similar means, and storage in data banks. Product Liability: The publisher can give no guarantee for all the information contained in this book. The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. © 2005 Springer-Verlag/Wien Printed in Austria Springer WienNewYork is a part of Springer + Science Business Media springeronline.com Typesetting: H. Meszarics • Satz & Layout • 1200 Wien, Austria Printing: Druckerei Theiss GmbH, 9431 St. Stefan, Austria Printed on acid-free and chlorine-free bleached paper SPIN: 10942017 With 40 Figures Library of Congress Control Number: 2004111514 ISBN 3-211-40485-6 SpringerWienNewYork Contents Introduction and Overview (N. Bergemann, A. Riecher-Rössler) ...................... VII 1 Estrogens in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: From Physiology to Pathophysiology (H. Vedder, C. Behl) ............................................................ 1 2 Estrogens and Schizophrenia (A. Riecher-Rössler) ........................................ 31 3 Gender Differences in Schizophrenia (H. Häfner) ......................................... 53 4 Puberty and Schizophrenia Onset (R. Z. Hayeems, M. V. Seeman) ............. 95 5 Clinical Estrogen Trials in Patients with Schizophrenia (J. Kulkarni) ......... 107 6 Hypoestrogenism and Estrogen Replacement Therapy in Women Suffering from Schizophrenia (N. Bergemann, Ch. Mundt, P. Parzer, B. Runnebaum, F. Resch) ................................................................................ 123 7 The Effect of Estrogens on Depression (L. S. Kahn, U. Halbreich) .............. 145 8 Estrogens and Other Hormones in the Treatment of Premenstrual Syndromes (L. Born, M. Steiner) ..................................................................... 175 9 Estrogens and Perinatal Disorders (A. Gregoire) ............................................ 191 10 Estrogen Therapy in Perimenopausal Affective Disorders (G. Stoppe, M. Dören) ...................................................................