---
title: Do schizophrenia symptoms change across the menstrual cycle? | Niyora
description: Yes, schizophrenia symptoms significantly vary across different phases of the menstrual cycle. Positive symptoms improved during the progesterone phase, while
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/change-of-symptoms-of-schizophrenia-across-phases-of-menstrual-cycle-2020/
---

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- Do schizophrenia symptoms change across the menstrual cycle?

Cohort study, 2020

# Do schizophrenia symptoms change across the menstrual cycle?

Yes, schizophrenia symptoms significantly vary across different phases of the menstrual cycle. Positive symptoms improved during the progesterone phase, while negative symptoms and general psychopathology improved during the estrogen phases.

 Early or limited evidence

40 female inpatients with schizophrenia at a psychiatric hospital

## What they did

A cohort study of 40 female inpatients with schizophrenia at a psychiatric hospital. Researchers assessed their symptoms using the PANSS scale across three different menstrual cycle phases (premenstrual, menstrual, and postmenstrual) over a period of 15 months, tracking up to two menstrual cycles per person.

## What they found

Positive symptoms improved significantly only during the progesterone phase. Negative symptoms and general psychopathology scores showed improvement during the estrogen phases of the menstrual cycle.

## What it means for you

Hormone changes during the menstrual cycle may affect schizophrenia symptoms in women, suggesting that treatment may need to be adjusted for individual women. This study included only hospitalized patients, so findings may not apply to women with schizophrenia living in the community.

40

women with schizophrenia

15 months

study duration

3

menstrual cycle phases assessed

## About the study

Original title Change of symptoms of schizophrenia across phases of menstrual cycle Authors Ray P, Mandal N, Sinha VK Journal Archives of women's mental health Year 2020 Study design Cohort study What was tested Observational study with no intervention Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00737-019-0952-4](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-019-0952-4)

## Topics

[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Schizophrenia and psychosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-psychosis/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

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Do psychotic symptoms get worse during the menstrual period?

Cohort study, 2011

Does premenstrual symptom worsening change how bipolar disorder develops over time?

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