Neuroactive Steroids in First-Episode Psychosis: A Role for Progesterone?

Abstract EN

Neuroactive steroids may play a role in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders, but few studies examined this issue.

We compared serum levels of cortisol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and progesterone between a representative sample of first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients and age- and gender-matched healthy subjects.

Furthermore, we analyzed the associations between neuroactive steroids levels and the severity of psychotic symptom dimensions.

Male patients had lower levels of progesterone than controls ( p = 0.03 ).

Progesterone levels were inversely associated with the severity of positive symptoms ( p = 0.007 ).

Consistent with preclinical findings, results suggest that progesterone might have a role in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders.