Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone levels correlate with negative symptoms in male patients with schizophrenia

Haitham M. Hashim, Mohmed G. Negm
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Correspondence Address:
Haitham M. Hashim
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig
Egypt

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

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DOI: 10.7123/01.EJP.0000416070.97156.25

Clinical studies have shown greater sex differences in symptoms of schizophrenia, with men having more negative symptoms than women, which may be related to the action of the reproductive hormones.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between negative symptoms and the plasma levels of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in male patients with schizophrenia.

The participants were 50 male patients with chronic schizophrenia. The psychopathology of the patients was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) and the Drug-induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale (DIEPSS) were also used to exclude the effects of depression or drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms.

The PANSS negative scores showed a significant inverse correlation with the serum testosterone levels without a correlation with serum DHEAS.

This study indicates that testosterone but not DHEAS may play an important role in the severity of negative symptoms in male patients with schizophrenia.