OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of estrogen on cognitive functions in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: Neuropsychological tests such as Paired Associate Learning Test, Complex Figure Test, Trail Making B Test, Performance IQ Test Subscales were applied to 15 normal controls, 16 estrogen treated schizophrenic patients and 15 control schizophrenic patients. The schizophrenic patients were retested with the same instruments after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of study period and psychopathology was assessed in the same patients before and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks of study using BPRS and PANSS. RESULTS: Cognitive impairment was found in each measure of memory, attention, executive function in schizophrenic patients as compared with the normal controls. After 8 weeks of estrogen treatment, significant improvement occurred in executive function and probable improvement occurred in memory and attention in schizophrenic patients. CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with estrogen may possibly improve parts cognitive functions of schizophrenic patients and we expect, schizophrenic patients with long term estrogen treatment will be improved in other cognitive fuctions.
Estrogens* ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Memory ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Paired-Associate Learning ; Psychopathology ; Schizophrenia ; Trail Making Test