Women and psychosis: a guide to evidence-based, hormone-informed care

Journal article : Review

Psychosis is associated with sex differences that are rarely considered in routine care. Oestrogen exerts protective effects, with symptom exacerbation and increased relapse risk occurring during low-oestrogen states, such as perimenstruation, postpartum, and menopause transition. Antipsychotic pharmacokinetics and response vary by sex and hormonal status, with premenopausal women requiring lower doses, and postmenopausal women showing reduced treatment efficacy. Antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinaemia can suppress endogenous oestrogen, compounding both mental and physical health risks. Despite this, treatment guidelines remain largely sex neutral. This Review outlines the role of ovarian hormones in psychosis and offers practical considerations to support the first steps towards implementing hormone-informed care, providing a conceptual framework to guide clinical decision making with the aim of improving outcomes for women with psychosis across the lifespan. Key recommendations include thorough assessment of hormonal status, sex-specific prescribing, and the judicious use of oestrogen-based interventions such as hormonal contraception, hormone therapy, and oestrogen receptor modulators.

Authors: Brand, BA; Behrman, S; Marwick, KFM; Reilly, TJ; Talaulikar, V

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Lancet Psychiatry
• Publication date: 2026-03-24
• Acceptance date: 2026-01-13
• DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(26)00016-7
• EISSN: 2215-0374
• ISSN: 2215-0366
• Language: English
• Subtype: Review