ABSTRACT

Objective:

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder. Much attention has been paid to the relationship between psychiatric disorders and the menstrual cycle. Premenstrual syndrome is a medical condition which is related to various pstciatric disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate premenstrual symptoms (PMS) and premenstrual exacerbation (PME) in patients with schizophrenia.

Material and metheods:

We completed this study with outpatiens who were diagnosed as schizophrenia according to DSM-IV and followed in psychosis unit, Deparment of Psychiatry, Ege Medical School. Thirty women (aged between 18 an 45) with regular menstruations are included in the study. Premenstrual syndrome was assessed with a symptom checklist based on International Classification of Diseases (10th revision; ICD-10) criteria. Premenstrual exacerbation was defined clinically as premenstrual worsening of schizophrenic symptoms.

Results:

All the patiens had at least one PMS symptom. The avarage number of PMS symptoms in patients was 3.4±1.2; the prevalance of PMS with considerable clinical importance was %50; and the prevalance of PME was %26. The most frequently reported PMS symptom was‘bloating or weight gain’(%80), and the least was ‘poor concentration’ (%6.7). ‘Changes in appetite’ were more frequent in patients with PME (p<0.05). There was no difference in patients with and without PMS orPME by means of age, marital status, employment, education, duration of illness, antipsychotic dosage, use of antidepressants or mood stabilizers.

Conclusion:

The results of this study suggest that PMS and PME are considerably common in female patients with schizophrenia; and that PMS and PME are comparatively different clinical entities. Premenstrual changes in appetite should carefully be monitored. Antidepressants and mood stabilizers do not seem to be helpful in treating PMS in patients with shizophrenia.