Comparison of Alopecia severity and blood level of testosterone in men suffering schizophrenia with control group.

Background: Testosterone causes Alopecia that is related to functional testosterone and end organ sensitivity to testosterone. Studies conducted on the relationship of schizophrenia and testosterone have reported different findings. This study was designed to measure the extent of Alopecia in schizophrenic patients which is one of the most important signs of sensitivity to Androgens.

Materials And Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 98 schizophrenic patients and 95 person of normal population encountered to study in two groups considering inclusion criteria and completing a consent form, in the psychiatric ward of Noor Hospital in Isfahan, Iran. Meanwhile, the record of necessary demographic information a blood sample was taken from every selected person to measure the blood level of testosterone. The severity of Alopecia was measured using Hamilton and Norwood criterion in a blindness condition. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software and statistical tests of χ(2) and logistic Regression.

Results: The mean blood level of testosterone in both studied and control groups were 458.80 ± 103 and 476.34 ± 108, respectively, having no significant difference (P > 0.05). There was no significant relationship in both groups between Alopecia severity and the blood level of testosterone. And in comparison of two groups, providing Androgenic Alopecia with a degree higher than three in Hamilton Scale, schizophrenia risk decreases 8.627 times.

Conclusion: Sensitivity to Androgens and Alopecia probably plays a protective role against schizophrenia, and if Alopecia rate exceeds the rate of grade 2 Hamilton, the risk of schizophrenia decreases 8.62 times.