Estrogen, Schizophrenia and Neurodevelopment

Women are relatively protected against schizophrenia. The illness has a similar rate in women and men, but it starts later in women and is less severe. It is tempting to attribute this to the neuroprotective effect of estrogen, but the story is not straightforward and contains many unknowns. Women begin their schizophrenia trajectory later in development compared with men and this probably accounts for their relatively superior prognosis. Estrogen agonists are potential therapeutic agents but need to be proven safe, and the timing of administration may be crucial. This article examines what is known about estrogen and the development of schizophrenia.