Treating schizophrenia at the time of menopause.

The purpose of this review is to optimize treatment for women with schizophrenia during the menopause. Recommendations are based on a relatively sparse literature derived from searching PubMed, PsychINFO, SOCINDEX with appropriate search terms for all years subsequent to 2000. Attention needs to be paid to menopausal symptoms in women with schizophrenia and to the possibility that psychotic symptoms may worsen at this time and that general health may deteriorate. Antipsychotic treatment may need to be modified and cardiac and metabolic health indices closely monitored.