RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of estrogen on cognitive functions in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: Neuropsychological tests such as Paired Associate Learning Test, Complex Figure Test, Trail Making B Test, Performance IQ Test Subscales were applied to 15 normal controls, 16 estrogen treated schizophrenic patients and 15 control schizophrenic patients. The schizophrenic patients were retested with the same instruments after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of study period and psychopathology was assessed in the same patients before and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks of study using BPRS and PANSS. RESULTS: Cognitive impairment was found in each measure of memory, attention, executive function in schizophrenic patients as compared with the normal controls. After 8 weeks of estrogen treatment, significant improvement occurred in executive function and probable improvement occurred in memory and attention in schizophrenic patients. CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with estrogen may possibly improve parts cognitive functions of schizophrenic patients and we expect, schizophrenic patients with long term estrogen treatment will be improved in other cognitive fuctions.