Testosterone and schizophrenia: A clinical review

The relationship between testosterone and psychiatric disorders has been a long-standing one. The sex difference in schizophrenia has triggered to better understand the role that testosterone plays in the unfolding and clinical presentation of this psychotic disorder. DHEA and testosterone are found to influence dopaminergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission systems that are believed to play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The onset of schizophrenia in males, most frequently encountered during adolescence, is also characterized by an increase in testosterone levels. Some studies have also observed lower testosterone levels in adult males with schizophrenia (or psychosis) compared to healthy controls.