Sex Hormones, Darwinism, and Depression

Niculescu, Alexander B.; Akiskal, Hagop S.

doi:10.1001/archpsyc.58.11.1083-a

Cited by 15 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…By contrast, the premenstrual phase, when progesterone and allopregnanolone are relatively high and fertility and cortical excitability are low, seems most likely to be associated with bipolar depressive episodes. Similarly, it has been suggested that ‘… the initial euthymic phase leading to ovulation is conducive to mating …’ (, p. 1084) and that dysphoric symptoms in the premenstrual phase, during pregnancy, and in the postpartum period might have evolved because they keep women out of harm's way when the survival of a child may depend on them. Possibly relevant to the findings reviewed herein regarding heterogeneity in phase‐episode relationships, Reiber reported that women experience different menstrual cycle patterns of PMS‐like changes that are dependent on whether their current conditions are advantageous for reproduction from an evolutionary perspective.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the menstrual cycle on bipolar disorder

2013

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Although research has focused on the premenstrual phase to the neglect of the periovulatory phase, it appears that a subgroup of women with BD, possibly those with hormonal sensitivity, experience menstrual cycle effects on depressive, hypomanic, and manic episodes. These phase-episode effects appear to be heterogeneous and may have implications for treatment. Whether they might best be described using course specifiers, similar to postpartum onset and rapid cycling, or as diagnostic entities, like PMDD, requires further study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the menstrual cycle on bipolar disorder

2013

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“…Misconceptions regarding the interrelations between motivation and cognitive abilities, together with a misunderstanding of the function of the reproductive axis, prevent scientific progress in the field. Throughout history, diverging testosterone levels have played an essential role in the formation and maintenance of female submission and male dominance (Niculescu & Akiskal, 2001). Although in modern societies the functionality of this sex-type social hierarchy is severely attenuated, the hormone keeps on sending the ancient message in us that produces sex-linked feelings and thoughts of competence and incompetence when dealing with challenges and threats (Josephs, Newman, Brown, & Beer, 2003).…”

Section: Mathematical Cognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in social and mathematical cognition: an endocrine perspective

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Josephs³

et al. 2008

NEJP

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At the upper end of spectrums, males outperform females in mathematical cognition (i.e., processing information relevant for understanding the physical world) and females outperform males in social cognition (i.e., processing information relevant for understanding the social world). To be precise, sex differences in thinking about physical problems are observed in top-tier scientific environments, whereas sex differences in thinking about social problems are observed under more interpersonal, empathetic circumstances. One idea is that these differences are due to biologically based cognitive capacities that would differ between males and females. Here we would like to challenge this view and argue that biologically based motive drives principally underlie disparity in mathematical and social ability between the sexes. These motive drives are produced by the sexually dimorphic neuroendocrine system, and presently we highlight the role of the gonadal hormone testosterone. Testosterone is omnipotent in all sex differences in brain and behaviour, first because this male type hormone by itself and by way of its metabolite, the female type hormone oestradiol, builds both male and female brains. Moreover, testosterone influences our motive drives in such a way that we want to understand the mechanical world and the hormone improves performance under highly challenging conditions. Finally, testosterone conveys no affiliative motives or motives to understand people as its affinity with sociality purely depends on sex, money or status. The largest hormonal difference between the sexes is observed for testosterone, thus the hormone's specific motivational properties may well explain sex differences in mathematical and social cognition.

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“…Clinical epidemiology studies have consistently shown that there is a two-fold higher incidence of depression in men than in women. The phenomenology and environmental triggers of depression and suicidality may be somewhat different in the two sexes - loss of status leading to violent completed suicides in men, and perceived abandonment leading to incomplete attempted suicides by women [1,13,14]. …”

Section: Depression and Decreased Growth Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%