---
title: Do hormones from the menstrual cycle affect schizophrenia symptoms?
description: Yes. Women with schizophrenia often have worsening psychotic symptoms and depression or anxiety at certain times in their menstrual cycle. Doctors can manage
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-in-schizophrenic-patients-review-with-a-case-2015/
---

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- Do hormones from the menstrual cycle affect schizophrenia symptoms?

Case report, 2015

# Do hormones from the menstrual cycle affect schizophrenia symptoms?

Yes. Women with schizophrenia often have worsening psychotic symptoms and depression or anxiety at certain times in their menstrual cycle. Doctors can manage this by adjusting medications.

 Early or limited evidence

Women diagnosed with schizophrenia

## What they did

This is a review of what experts know about the relationship between menstrual cycles and schizophrenia symptoms, with a case example included. It is not a study of new treatment.

## What they found

Psychotic symptoms and depression often get worse during specific parts of the menstrual cycle in women with schizophrenia. Doctors can treat worsening symptoms by using antidepressants (SSRIs), increasing antipsychotic medication 3-5 days before menstruation, or using hormone therapy to manage menstrual cycle changes.

## What it means for you

Women with schizophrenia should track how their symptoms change throughout their menstrual cycle and tell their doctor about patterns. Their doctor can then adjust treatment timing to help. The evidence comes from doctors' observations and case reports rather than large controlled studies.

3-5

Days before menstruation when medication adjusted

## About the study

Original title Menstrual Cycle in Schizophrenic Patients: Review with a Case Authors Sönmez İ, Köşger F Journal Noro psikiyatri arsivi Year 2015 Study design Case report What was tested Antidepressants or antipsychotics adjusted 3-5 days before period, or hormone therapy Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.5152/npa.2015.7660](https://doi.org/10.5152/npa.2015.7660)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Menstrual psychosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-menstrual-psychosis/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[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.

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