Delusional Disorder over the Reproductive Life Span: The Potential Influence of Menopause on the Clinical Course

Background and Objectives. Recent evidence supports an association between estrogen levels and severity of psychopathology in schizophrenia women. Our main goal was to investigate whether delusional disorder (DD) women with premenopausal onset and those with postmenopausal onset differ in demographic and clinical features. 

Methods. Psychopathological symptoms were assessed in 80 DD women (DSM-IV-TR), at baseline and after six and 24 months. Scores in the PANSS, PSP for functionality, HRSD 17 items, C-SSRS for suicide, and the SUMD were considered outcome variables. For comparison purposes, t- and χ²-tests were performed and nonparametric tests when necessary. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted for multivariate comparisons. 

Results. 57 out of 80 DD women completed the study. When unadjusted, DD with premenopausal onset had a longer DUP, higher educational level, and a tendency toward higher rates of gynaecological disorders. Erotomanic type was most frequent in DD women premenopausal onset, and somatic and jealous types were most frequent in those with postmenopausal onset. After 24 months, DD women with premenopausal onset showed higher depressive symptoms and a tendency toward higher rates of psychotic relapses. 

Conclusions. Our results support that some aspects of psychopathology and insight may differ according to the onset of DD and the reproductive status.

Below:  Assessment of psychotic symptoms after 24 months by groups

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/S9r0ze

By:  Alexandre González-Rodríguez, 1 Oriol Molina-Andreu, 2 Rafael Penadés, 3 , 4 Marina Garriga, 5 Alexandre Pons, 3 , 4Rosa Catalán, 3 , 4 , * and Miguel Bernardo 3 , 4

¹Barcelona Clinic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU), Neurosciences Institute, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 170 Villarroel Street, 08036 Barcelona, Spain

²Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Mútua de Terrassa, 5 Doctor Robert Street, 08221 Terrassa, Spain

³Barcelona Clinic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU), Neurosciences Institute, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, 170 Villarroel Street, 08036 Barcelona, Spain

⁴Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 149 Rosselló Street, 08036 Barcelona, Spain

⁵Barcelona Clinic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU), Bipolar Disorders Unit, Neurosciences Institute, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 170 Villarroel Street, 08036 Barcelona, Spain

*Rosa Catalán: Email: se.bu.cinilc@nalatacr

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