Seethalakshmi Ramanathan1, Jean Miewald2, Debra Montrose2, Matcheri S Keshavan3. 1. Hutchings Psychiatric Center, Syracuse, NY, United States; SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States. 2. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States. 3. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: mkeshava@bidmc.harvard.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Puberty and reproductive hormones have been identified as having a potential role in schizophrenia. Earlier reports have suggested associations between later age at puberty and schizophrenia in males. Similarly, associations have been reported between testosterone levels and psychotic symptoms. In this report, we examined the association between age at puberty and prodromal symptoms of psychosis. METHODS: 58 child or adolescent family members of individuals with schizophrenia were interviewed using the Scale of Prodromal Symptoms and the Tanner Maturational Scale. Age at Tanner pubertal stage was determined and regression analyses were used to explore associations between prodromal symptoms and age at puberty. RESULTS: Among males, delayed age at puberty was associated with greater severity of prodromal symptoms; the association between negative prodromal symptoms and delayed age was significant (p=0.001). In females, the association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that delayed age at puberty may be associated with negative prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia in males. Our findings suggest that delayed age at puberty could potentially be a predictive biomarker for psychopathology in males at risk for schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND: Puberty and reproductive hormones have been identified as having a potential role in schizophrenia. Earlier reports have suggested associations between later age at puberty and schizophrenia in males. Similarly, associations have been reported between testosterone levels and psychotic symptoms. In this report, we examined the association between age at puberty and prodromal symptoms of psychosis. METHODS: 58 child or adolescent family members of individuals with schizophrenia were interviewed using the Scale of Prodromal Symptoms and the Tanner Maturational Scale. Age at Tanner pubertal stage was determined and regression analyses were used to explore associations between prodromal symptoms and age at puberty. RESULTS: Among males, delayed age at puberty was associated with greater severity of prodromal symptoms; the association between negative prodromal symptoms and delayed age was significant (p=0.001). In females, the association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that delayed age at puberty may be associated with negative prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia in males. Our findings suggest that delayed age at puberty could potentially be a predictive biomarker for psychopathology in males at risk for schizophrenia.
Authors: S van Rijn; A Aleman; L de Sonneville; M Sprong; T Ziermans; P Schothorst; H van Engeland; H Swaab Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2011-01-21 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: Rebecca E Blanton; Jennifer G Levitt; Jeffrey R Peterson; David Fadale; Mike L Sporty; Mimi Lee; Dennis To; Elizabeth C Mormino; Paul M Thompson; James T McCracken; Arthur W Toga Journal: Neuroimage Date: 2004-06 Impact factor: 6.556