The association between prolactin concentration and aggression in female patients with schizophrenia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

This study assessed the association between serum prolactin (PRL) concentration and aggression in female patients with schizophrenia.

METHODS:

Female patients with schizophrenia (N = 120) were diagnosed using SCID-5 based on the DSM-5 criteria. They were sampled at the University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce during the period from March 2017 to March 2019. Aggression was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and Overt Aggression Scale (OAS). Patients were subdivided into aggressive and non-aggressive groups. PRL was determined in serum using electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) method.

RESULTS:

Aggressive patients with schizophrenia had significantly (p < 0.0001) increased PRL concentration compared to non-aggressive patients. Higher PRL concentration was significantly (p < 0.0001) associated with pronounced aggressive symptoms determined by the OAS scores. When patients were subdivided into those who were treated with risperidone, haloperidol, paliperidone, amisulpride, and a group that was not treated with these antipsychotics, aggressive patients in both groups had significantly higher PRL concentrations than non-aggressive patients. Higher antipsychotic dose was related to increased PRL concentration (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings suggest that higher PRL is significantly associated with aggression, irrespective of the antipsychotic medication, in female patients with schizophrenia.

• Authors: Kresimir Puljic, Miroslav Herceg, Lucija Tudor, Nela Pivac
• Journal: The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (World J Biol Psychiatry) Vol. 22 Issue 4 Pg. 301-309 (04 2021) ISSN: 1814-1412 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32657631 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Prolactin

Topics

• Aggression
• Antipsychotic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Prolactin (blood)
• Schizophrenia (drug therapy)