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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(1-2): 135-140 PubMed PMID: 15159697 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Analysis of Variance, Antipsychotic Agents:pharmacology, Benzodiazepines:pharmacology, Dibenzothiazepines:pharmacology, Gonadal Steroid Hormones:blood, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:drug effects, Indoles:pharmacology, Isoindoles, Male, Pit.   

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of a switch from typical to atypical antipsychotic drugs (olanzapine, n=8; perospirone, n=9; or quetiapine, n=13) on quality of life and hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones.

METHODS: The subjects were 30 male chronic schizophrenia inpatients. The assessment was done before and after the switch.

RESULTS: After the switch, (i) scores of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total and three factors (anxiety-depression, anergia, and thought disturbance) decreased, (ii) the overall severity score of the Drug Induced Extra-Pyramidal Symptoms Scale tended to decrease, (iii) prolactin decreased but gonadal hormones remained unchanged, and (iv) scores on all three subscales (psychosocial, motivation/energy, and symptoms/side effects) in the Japanese version of the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (JSQLS) decreased. However, there were no significant group effects, or time-by-group interactions. In addition, score changes from baseline in psychosocial and motivation/energy subscales in the JSQLS were correlated with those in psychotic symptoms, particularly in the anxiety-depression factor. Moreover, responders had been taking lower doses of typical antipsychotic drugs, and had higher serum estradiol concentrations than non-responders before the switch.

CONCLUSIONS: The study indicated that the switch to atypical antipsychotic drugs was effective in reducing elevated prolactin without affecting the gonadal hormones and in improving quality of life patients who had been treated with typical antipsychotic drugs....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(4): 243-247 PubMed PMID: 11524630 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anti-Anxiety Agents:therapeutic use, Anxiety Disorders:drug therapy, Genitalia, Male:drug effects, Gonadotropins:blood, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:drug effects, Isoindoles, Male, Middle Aged, Piperazines:therapeutic use, Prolactin:blood.   

BACKGROUND: Serotonin (5-HT) agonists are reported to affect prolactin (PRL) and gonadotropin secretion. A small study was conducted on male patients with generalized anxiety disorders to investigate the clinical and neuroendocrinological effects of the 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist tandospirone (TDS) on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.

METHODS: The subjects for the present study included 11 male outpatients. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in this study. The endocrine studies were done before and during TDS administration. Psychiatric ratings were done using the Japanese version of the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

RESULTS: We found that both state- and trait-anxiety scores were significantly reduced by TDS treatment; there was no significant difference in PRL, gonadotropins or testosterone (T) between the patients and normal controls; TDS administration showed significant stimulatory effects on PRL and T; and PRL change between baseline and TDS steady state (DeltaPRL) did not show a significant correlation with improvement in state or trait-anxiety scores.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that PRL response may not provide a clinical predictor; (2) PRL level may not reflect the level of anxiety, and 5-HT(1A) may have stimulatory effects on PRL. However, further, double-blind evaluation with a larger sample would be needed for clarification of effects of 5-HT(1A) on the HPG axis....

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