Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Estrogen Patch Boosts Schizophrenia Treatment Success

Schizophrenia symptoms in women were significantly alleviated by the addition of estradiol patches to conventional antipsychotic therapy, researchers here said.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial over four weeks, women given 100 mcg/day by patch plus standard drug therapy showed reductions in positive schizophrenia symptoms, general psychopathological symptoms, and overall scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scales, reported Jayashri Kulkarni, M.B.B.S., M.P.M., Ph.D., of Monash University, and colleagues in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

The reductions were significant compared with baseline and with patients given placebo plus standard treatment, the researchers said. However, estradiol treatment had no significant effect on negative symptoms.

READ MORE @ MEDPAGE TODAY

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